DictionaryAI

light

LYT/laɪt/

Plurallights (some meanings)

Adjectivelighter, lightest

Verblights, lighting, lit

55 meanings of light

Practice

  1. 1
    visible energynoununcountable
    The brightness from the sun, lamps or fire that lets us see things.

    The light in the kitchen is good for reading.

    Plants grow toward the light.

    UsageSay in the light or in bad light.

    Similarbrightness, illumination

    Oppositedark, darkness

    Note
  2. 2
    nouncountable or uncountable
    A lamp, bulb or other thing that gives out light, whether it is on or off.

    Turn off the lights when you leave.

    The light in the hall needs a new bulb.

    UsageSay turn on or turn off the light (not incorrect: open the light).

    Similarlamp, bulb

  3. 3
    not heavyadjective
    Not heavy, weighing little, easy to lift or carry.

    The box is light enough for one person.

    She packed a light bag for the weekend.

    UsageSay a box is light enough to lift. The opposite is heavy.

    Oppositeheavy

    Note
  4. 4
    pale coloradjective
    Pale in color, close to white, as in light blue or light skin.

    She painted the walls a light gray.

    He has light hair and dark eyes.

    UsageSay light blue or light brown. The opposite is dark.

    Similarpale, fair

    Oppositedark, deep

  5. 5
    low amountadjective
    Small in amount or not strong, as in light rain or a light breeze.

    A light rain was falling when we left.

    There was only light traffic on the road.

    UsageSay light rain or light traffic; the opposite is heavy.

    Similarslight, minor, gentle

    Oppositeheavy, severe

  6. 6
    brightenverbtransitive
    To give light to a place so people can see.

    Candles lit the whole hall.

    A single lamp was enough to light the room.

    UsagePast form: lit. A well-lit room has plenty of light.

    Similarilluminate, lighten, illumine, brighten

    Oppositedarken

    Note
  7. 7
    set fire toverbtransitive
    To make something start burning, or to start burning.

    She lit a candle for her mother.

    He stopped to light a cigarette.

    UsagePast form: lit. You light a candle or a fire.

    Similarignite, kindle

    Oppositeextinguish, douse

    Note
  8. 8
    nounfigurativelycountable or uncountable
    Understanding or helpful information, as in throw light on a problem.

    The letters throw new light on her early life.

    Can anyone shed light on what happened?

    UsageSay shed light on something when you help explain it.

    Similarillumination, insight, understanding, enlightenment

    Oppositedarkness, ignorance

    Note
  9. 9
    point of viewnouncountable or uncountable
    A way of seeing something, as in see it in a new light.

    The news put his silence in a different light.

    Seen in that light, the plan makes sense.

    UsageUse see or put with it: see it in a different light.

    Note
  10. 10
    traffic signalnouncountable or uncountable
    A traffic light, or the crossing where one stands.

    Turn left at the second light.

    The light turned green and nobody moved.

    UsageSay wait for the light or stop at the lights.

    Similarsignal

  11. 11
    adjective
    Smaller and lighter than others of the same kind, as in a light aircraft.

    A light aircraft landed in the field.

    The light tanks moved ahead of the column.

    Oppositeheavy

  12. 12
    nouncountable or uncountable
    Public view, the state of being known, as in bring to light.

    The scandal came to light years later.

    New facts were brought to light by the inquiry.

    UsageSay a secret came to light when people found out about it.

    Note
  13. 13
    diet (food)adjective
    Of food or drink, with fewer calories or less fat, alcohol or salt than the usual kind.

    She switched to light beer.

    The light version has half the calories.

    UsageSay light beer or light mayonnaise.

    Similardiet, low-fat

    Oppositeregular, full-fat

  14. 14
    for funadjective
    Not serious, as in 'light reading' or 'a light joke', or not important.

    He wrote light verse for the magazine.

    His novels are light and silly, full of jokes.

    UsageCommon in light entertainment and something light to watch.

    Similarfrivolous, playful, trivial

    Oppositeserious, heavy, grave, weighty

    Note

Practice

Can you tell the meanings of light apart? Answer 3 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.

Origins

Meanings 1–2, 8–10, 12, 23, 26–27, 30

From Old English lēoht, going back to a Proto-Indo-European root meaning "to shine."

Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 2 facts

Meanings 6–7

From Old English līehtan, meaning "to light" or "to shine."

Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 2 facts

Meanings 4, 15, 18

From Old English lēoht, meaning "bright" or "luminous," from a Proto-Indo-European root for "light."

Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 3 facts

Meanings 3, 5, 11, 13–14, 16–17, 19–22, 24–25, 28–29

From Old English lēoht, from a Proto-Indo-European root meaning "light" (not heavy).

Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 2 facts

Meanings 31–32

From Old English līhtan, meaning "to relieve."

Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 1 fact