light 1 of 5

noun

ˈlīt How to pronounce light (audio)
Definition of lightnext
1
as in glow
the steady giving off of the form of radiation that makes vision possible he read poetry to her by the light of the moon

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2
as in lamp
something that provides illumination turn off the light when you go to bed

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3
as in star
a person who is widely known and usually much talked about a leading light in the acting profession

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4
as in sunrise
the first appearance of light in the morning or the time of its appearance with the coming of light we could see all the damage that the storm had caused

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light

2 of 5

adjective (1)

1
as in lightweight
having little weight It was no problem carrying the suitcase up the stairs since it was light.

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2
as in smooth
involving minimal difficulty or effort a little light work was all it took to straighten up the room

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3
as in sparse
less plentiful than what is normal, necessary, or desirable traffic on the highway seems to be very light today

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4
as in graceful
moving easily the dancer was exceptionally light on her feet

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5
as in gentle
not harsh or stern especially in nature or effect light punishment to fit a minor offense

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6
as in fluffy
resembling air in lightness the waves had an especially light foam at their crests because of the strong breeze

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light

3 of 5

adjective (2)

1
as in illuminated
filled with much light the light, airy room is exceptionally cheerful

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2
as in faded
lacking intensity of color we painted the walls a light blue

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3
as in pale
of light complexion her light skin tends to freckle easily in the sun

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light

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verb (1)

1
as in to burn
to set (something) on fire we lit the kindling before adding the heavier logs

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2
as in to illumine
to supply with light the lights from the TV cameras will light this room as though it were high noon

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light

5 of 5

verb (2)

1
as in to perch
to come to rest after descending from the air the bird lit on the branch and began to sing

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2
as in to descend
to come down from something (as a vehicle) he hurriedly lighted from the bus and started walking up the street

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Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective light contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of light are easy, effortless, facile, simple, and smooth. While all these words mean "not demanding effort or involving difficulty," light stresses freedom from what is burdensome.

a light teaching load

When is easy a more appropriate choice than light?

In some situations, the words easy and light are roughly equivalent. However, easy is applicable either to persons or things imposing tasks or to activity required by such tasks.

an easy college course

When is it sensible to use effortless instead of light?

The words effortless and light can be used in similar contexts, but effortless stresses the appearance of ease and usually implies the prior attainment of artistry or expertness.

moving with effortless grace

How do facile and easy relate to one another, in the sense of light?

Facile often adds to easy the connotation of undue haste or shallowness.

facile answers to complex questions

When could simple be used to replace light?

The synonyms simple and light are sometimes interchangeable, but simple stresses ease in understanding or dealing with because complication is absent.

a simple problem in arithmetic

Where would smooth be a reasonable alternative to light?

Although the words smooth and light have much in common, smooth stresses the absence or removal of all difficulties, hardships, or obstacles.

a smooth ride

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of light
Noun
Look toward the eastern and southeastern sky after dark for its steady yellowish light. — Jamie Carter, Space.com, 16 Oct. 2026 On the first night of Southern California’s fires Thursday, the crescent moon was the only source of light across homes nestled beneath Boney Mountain in Ventura County and across much of the Santa Monica Mountains due to the ongoing outages. — Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times, 16 Oct. 2026
Adjective
Meta squeezes two independent light-guiding cores into a single standard glass strand to double its bandwidth. — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 19 Oct. 2026 The kitchen has been updated with light-brown cabinetry and a sandy backsplash. — Matthew Sedacca, Curbed, 19 Oct. 2026
Verb
Decades later, the fire lit by his first steed, a brown Schwinn Mag Scrambler, still burns bright. — Stewart Clarke, Deadline, 19 Oct. 2026 If Mick hadn’t come cruising into that playground, lights off? — George Saunders, New Yorker, 18 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for light
Recent Examples of Synonyms for light
  1. glow
  2. lamp
  3. star
  4. sunrise
  5. lightweight
  6. smooth
  7. sparse
  8. graceful
Noun
  • The concealer, which comes in 25 shades, goes on top to add a subtle glow that plays up the color of the eyes.
    — Maggie Ryan, Flow Space, 16 Oct. 2026
  • While the planets in our solar system are still visible, sky glow obscures more distant objects, such as fainter stars.
    — Chris McMullen, Space.com, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of glow
Noun
  • The nesting tables are by Frederick Kiesler, the lamp is Gino Sarfatti design, and the stool is Poul Kjærholm’s PK91.
    — Leonora Epstein, Architectural Digest, 14 Oct. 2026
  • In day scenes, film lights were only used where natural light fell short; at night, the team relied as much as possible on existing streetlights and lamps.
    — Ophélie Surcouf, Variety, 10 Oct. 2026
Definition of lamp
Noun
  • Longies, which make up the majority of GRBs, are associated with collapsing supermassive stars, whereas shorties are linked to crashes between two neutron stars.
    — Robin George Andrews, Scientific American, 20 Oct. 2026
  • The Oscar-winning actress and former child star, who had a stroke in 2020, shared a rare photo of herself Friday on social media.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of star
Noun
  • Friday will see a brief warm front slide through around sunrise before a cold front moves through around noon.
    — Ron Smiley, CBS News, 13 Oct. 2026
  • The phenomenon occurs when rocket exhaust expands in the thin upper atmosphere and catches sunlight before sunrise.
    — Richard Tribou, The Orlando Sentinel, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of sunrise
Adjective
  • Pebble Index 01 is a lightweight ring with a button users can press to record on-the-go thoughts that are added to Notes on their smartphones.
    — TIME Staff, Time, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Allure editors have consistently praised its fine, lightweight mist and a finish that sets within seconds.
    — Madison San Miguel, Allure, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of lightweight
Adjective
  • Each time a shutter fires, and each time a tire squeals, involves countless pieces working together to deliver a smooth outcome.
    — Catherina Gioino, Fortune, 21 Oct. 2026
  • Scientists expected the asteroid’s surface to be a smooth, sandy sphere where OSIRIS-REx could seamlessly touch down.
    — Sharmila Kuthunur, Space.com, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of smooth
Adjective
  • Rain in the Valley will be sparse and light, with most areas seeing less than a tenth of an inch through Friday.
    — Sean Macaday, Sacbee.com, 19 Oct. 2026
  • Polling is sparse, but Hamilton has narrowly led several polls released over the past month.
    — Jack Harvel, Kansas City Star, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of sparse
Adjective
  • The brusque treatment of an executive of Bajaria’s stature is a sign that no one is safe from scrutiny, and no one should ever count on making a graceful exit.
    — Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 17 Oct. 2026
  • Minervini calmed down from there, delivering a more graceful goodbye.
    — Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of graceful

Phrases Containing light

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ligatures
light
light bulb
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Cite this Entry

“Light.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/light. Accessed 22 Oct. 2026.

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