Definition Alight in a Sentence
\ ə-ˈlīt 
\
alighted also alit \ ə-ˈlit \ ; alighting
Definition of alight
(Entry 1 of 2)
intransitive verb
1 : to come down from something (such as a vehicle): such as a : dismount They alighted from the bus.
2 : to descend from or as if from the air and come to rest : land, settle The bird alighted on a branch. snow alighting on a roof
3 archaic : to come by chance
Definition of alight (Entry 2 of 2)
1 chiefly British : being on fire
2 : lighted up The sky was alight with stars.
Other Words from alight
Verb
alightment \ ə-ˈlīt-mənt \ noun
Synonyms & Antonyms for alight
Synonyms: Verb
- land ,
- light ,
- perch ,
- roost ,
- settle ,
- touch down
Synonyms: Adjective
- ablaze ,
- bright ,
- brightened ,
- illuminated ,
- illumined ,
- light ,
- lightsome ,
- lit
- ( or lighted )
Antonyms: Verb
- blast off ,
- take off
Antonyms: Adjective
- blackened ,
- dark ,
- darkened ,
- darkish ,
- darkling ,
- dimmed ,
- dusk ,
- dusky ,
- lightless ,
- pitch-black ,
- pitch-dark ,
- tenebrous ,
- unlit
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Examples of alight in a Sentence
Verb
A group of tourists alighted from the boat. a flock of eight swans circled above, then alighted on the pond Adjective
The sky was alight with stars. Enemy soldiers set the building alight.
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Recent Examples on the Web: Verb The app also will alight on Comcast's new XClass TV line of smart television sets built for streaming, which for the first time extends Comcast's streaming-entertainment platform outside its footprint. — Todd Spangler, Variety, 28 Oct. 2021 Even though the Pokémon Oreos taste exactly like other non-Pokémon Oreos, social media has been alight with raves and reviews of the cookies. — Leah Asmelash, CNN, 28 Sep. 2021 In its inaugural year, the Catalytic Sound Festival makes sister cities of Amsterdam, Vienna, New York, Washington D.C., Trondheim, Norway and Chicago, all of which will alight with the sounds of experimental music throughout October. — Hannah Edgar, chicagotribune.com, 8 Sep. 2021 As footage spread of the British countryside alight with animal pyres and bulldozers shoveling rigid carcasses into huge piles for incineration, tourism dropped 10 percent. — Nicola Twille, Wired, 6 July 2021 Kaz Brekker is a key part of Netflix's Shadow and Bone series, and the internet has been alight with conversations about the actor who plays him, Freddy Carter. — Rosie Knight, refinery29.com, 28 Apr. 2021 After a nine-day Atlantic crossing and a period of display in New York, this bronze original, one-sixteenth the size of her sister, will alight on the front lawn of the ambassador's residence. — New York Times, 18 June 2021 Kaz Brekker is a key part of Netflix's Shadow and Bone series, and the internet has been alight with conversations about the actor who plays him, Freddy Carter. — Rosie Knight, refinery29.com, 28 Apr. 2021 Kaz Brekker is a key part of Netflix's Shadow and Bone series, and the internet has been alight with conversations about the actor who plays him, Freddy Carter. — Rosie Knight, refinery29.com, 28 Apr. 2021 Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective Less than an hour before the game started the skies were alight with lightning and a heavy downpour deluged the field. — Brendan Kurie, BostonGlobe.com, 13 Nov. 2021 After their winter harvest, millions of farmers clear the leftover rice stubble by setting entire fields alight to prepare for the incoming wheat crop. — Swati Gupta, CNN, 9 Nov. 2021 For nearly two weeks, the Scottsdale Waterfront will be alight with large-scale works by artists from around the world. — Kimi Robinson, The Arizona Republic, 2 Nov. 2021 The black flame candle is alight to the Sanderson sisters' delight. — Alexia Fernández, PEOPLE.com, 1 Nov. 2021 The sweep of the park downslope from the Music Center toward City Hall was alight with marigolds and altars of different expressions and themes. — Los Angeles Times, 31 Oct. 2021 The black flame candle is alight to the Sanderson sisters' delight. — J. Kim Murphy, Variety, 31 Oct. 2021 The black mother-of-pearl dial is alight with bright jasmine flowers, and Top Wesselton diamonds mark the hours. — Nancy Olson, Forbes, 30 Oct. 2021 The first victims are seabirds, graceful creatures that alight upon the ocean's surface. — Los Angeles Times, 5 Oct. 2021
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'alight.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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First Known Use of alight
Verb
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Adjective
15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
History and Etymology for alight
Verb
Middle English alighten "to descend, get off (of), dismount," going back to Old English alīhtan (transitive) "to lighten, relieve," (intransitive) "to descend, get off (of)," from a-, perfective prefix + līhtan "to make lighter, descend, dismount" — more at abide, light entry 6
Adjective
Middle English alyht, alight, past participle of alighten "to set on fire, kindle, shed spiritual light on," going back to Old English alīhtan "to illuminate, light up," from a-, perfective prefix + līhtan "to shed light, set on fire" — more at abide, light entry 3
Note: In Modern English reanalyzed as a- entry 1 + light entry 1, by analogy with ablaze, afire, aflame.
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Cite this Entry
"Alight." Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/alight. Accessed 8 Dec. 2021.
More Definitions for alight
English Language Learners Definition of alight
(Entry 1 of 2)
: to stop on a surface after flying
: to step down from a boat, vehicle, etc.
\ ə-ˈlīt \
Kids Definition of alight
(Entry 1 of 2)
1 : to get down : dismount The riders alighted from their horses.
2 : to come down from the air and settle Butterflies alighted on the flowers.
Kids Definition of alight (Entry 2 of 2)
: full of light : lighted up The sky was alight with stars. His face was alight with excitement.
Definition Alight in a Sentence
Source: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/alight#:~:text=1%20%3A%20to%20come%20down%20from,They%20alighted%20from%20the%20bus.