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

4 of 5

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
Laura squirmed under her mother’s gaze, willed the light to turn green. — Literary Hub, 2 Oct. 2026 As recently reported by Billboard, the academy has continued its discussions about the category in light of the controversy. — Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 2 Oct. 2026
Adjective
This matters for some users, particularly those who want their keyboard to detect very light presses. — ArsTechnica, 5 Oct. 2026 The New York Yankees made light work of the Boston Red Sox in the Wild Card round, but this was going to be a different task. — David Troy Outkick, FOXNews.com, 5 Oct. 2026
Verb
Characters come alive with desire, as if lit from within by candles. — E. Alex Jung, Vulture, 2 Oct. 2026 For places like Boise and Tucson Jupiter will appear only about one-sixth of the moon's diameter above the moon's dim earth lit rim. — Joe Rao, Space.com, 2 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
  • What sets this story apart, Nakajima says, is that Nobita, a human, ends up beneath the waves because he was bathed in the glow of the Adaptation Ray.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 1 Oct. 2026
  • Every nightfall is different — different seasonal colors, angels, weather, celestial glows, grasses and shadows.
    — Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of glow
Noun
  • Whether major design outlets beyond House Beautiful begin treating portable/cordless lamps as a default recommendation rather than a styling flourish.
    — Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Charlotte Observer, 30 Sep. 2026
  • Her Calla Lily sconces show her mirthful approach, also embodied in her towering egg and pear lamps.
    — Julia Harrison, Architectural Digest, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of lamp
Noun
  • And the pop star has been collecting some major co-signs along the way.
    — Alicia Urrea, Billboard, 6 Oct. 2026
  • In his first role following his military service, Song Kang (Sweet Home) stars as Kang Pi-o, the perfectionist grandson of a renowned maestro whose mother pushes him to be the very best.
    — Kayti Burt, Time, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of star
Noun
  • The low-angle light plays hobs with conventional solar panels lying flat on a lander, but Blue Origin's Power Tower is designed to exploit the near-eternal sunset/sunrise.
    — David Szondy October 07, New Atlas, 7 Oct. 2026
  • The man who would someday hide from security before sunrise in pursuit of the closest possible spot?
    — Théoden Janes, Charlotte Observer, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of sunrise
Adjective
  • Cushioning was also considered, with the Gel-Transcend FJ using the brand’s proprietary FlyteFoam technology for lightweight comfort.
    — Riley Jones, Footwear News, 29 Sep. 2026
  • To build true relationship equity, brands must transform SMS from a promotional megaphone into a responsive, bidirectional utility powered by lightweight agentic intelligence.
    — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 29 Sep. 2026
Definition of lightweight
Adjective
  • Finished with a smooth, domed resin overlay that gives the artwork dimension and a polished finish.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 6 Oct. 2026
  • The finish is a semi-matte—smooth, satin, and shine-free—that looks looks like velvet on the lips.
    — Kiana Murden, Vogue, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of smooth
Adjective
  • The Kings began in 1967 before a sparse crowd in Long Beach, as executive Alan Rothenberg helped sell a skeptical Southern California on hockey’s place in a warm-weather city.
    — Kevin Baxter, Los Angeles Times, 5 Oct. 2026
  • A couple of decades later, however, Ryan Field gamedays often seemed sparse.
    — Shun Graves, Chicago Tribune, 4 Oct. 2026
Definition of sparse
Adjective
  • Decor, such as in Room 210, is a graceful fusion of white wood rafters, French oak, and stone flooring.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026
  • This beautiful retrospective volume shows a poet developing steadily, from the graceful descriptions and encoded trauma of the poems from the 1990s through the loosening music and political engagement of the books of the last ten years.
    — Craig Morgan Teicher, Literary Hub, 1 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 9 Oct. 2026.

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