light-years

plural of light-year
as in worlds
a huge physical or conceptual distance my sister and I are close in age, but personality-wise, there are light-years between us

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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-years Set the scene Etéreo, Auberge Collection (which draws its name from the Spanish word for ‘ethereal’) is only a 30-minute drive from the Cancún airport, but this slice of heaven on the Riviera Maya feels light-years away from the chaos. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Oct. 2026 The planet, known as Elias 2-24 b, is roughly the mass of Jupiter and sits about 450 light-years from Earth, according to NASA. — Paloma Chavez, PEOPLE, 25 Sep. 2026 This material is then channeled to the poles of black holes, from where it is blasted out as near-light-speed jets that can extend for thousands of light-years. — Robert Lea, Space.com, 24 Sep. 2026 These candidates include TRAPPIST-1e, a planet located about 40 light-years from Earth widely regarded as one of the most promising locations for alien life. — Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 23 Sep. 2026 Others are top-of-the-line machines, pointed at distant galaxies millions of light-years away. — Sean MacAday, Sacbee.com, 19 Sep. 2026 The tiny particle originated in an enormous gamma-ray burst two billion light-years away from Earth. — Adam Kovac, Scientific American, 8 Sep. 2026 The park feels light-years away from the closest major airport, Midland (235 miles away), and this seclusion ensures the park’s night views stay dazzling. — Stephanie Vermillion, Travel + Leisure, 23 Aug. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for light-years
Noun
  • Beyond shedding light on the history of our own planet, understanding how oxygen, nutrients and life evolved together on Earth could also help scientists recognize similar conditions on ocean-bearing worlds elsewhere, the researchers added.
    — Sharmila Kuthunur, Space.com, 3 Oct. 2026
  • Cameras multiplied the audience onto the massive display, effectively making it all about the fans before dropping them into increasingly dark and elaborate worlds.
    — Melinda Sheckells, HollywoodReporter, 2 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • The Nobel committee said his work was instrumental to the construction of the IceCube Neutrino Observatory in Antarctica, which glimpsed the first high-energy neutrinos from faraway galaxies.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 7 Oct. 2026
  • Halzen’s idea to use Antarctic ice as a giant detector helped create the IceCube observatory, which has captured high-energy neutrinos from distant galaxies and opened a new form of astronomy.
    — Kostya Manenkov, Los Angeles Times, 6 Oct. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Light-years.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/light-years. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

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