Meaning & use
light snowfall
Last updated
Meaning
nouncountable
a small amount of snow falling, usually not heavy and causing little trouble
Grammar: Can be used with 'a' or in the plural: a light snowfall, light snowfalls. Often after 'there was' or 'we had'.
Patterns
- a light snowfall
- light snowfalls
- there was a light snowfall
We had a light snowfall last night, just a dusting on the grass.
A light snowfall is expected in the mountains tomorrow.
The children were excited by the light snowfall, even though it didn't stick.
Word forms
| plural | light snowfalls |
|---|
Common combinations
- a light snowfall
- A light snowfall covered the garden by morning.
- expect a light snowfall
- The weather report says to expect a light snowfall tonight.
- light snowfall overnight
- There was a light snowfall overnight, but the roads are clear.
- just a light snowfall
- It was just a light snowfall, so school was not canceled.
Synonyms and how they differ
- dusting
- A dusting is a very thin layer of snow, emphasizing the small amount on the ground; light snowfall emphasizes the falling snow itself.
- flurries
- Flurries are short, light bursts of snow that come and go; light snowfall can be steadier and last longer.
Opposites
Word family
- snowfall noun
- The general term for snow falling or the amount that falls.
Commonly confused: light snowfall or snowflake?
light snowfall vs snowflake
A snowflake is a single piece of falling snow. A light snowfall is the event of a small amount of snow falling.
Practice
Choose the sentence that uses 'light snowfall' correctly.
Choose one answer.
Light snowfall is a countable noun, so 'a light snowfall' is correct. Option B uses the wrong preposition, option C mixes singular and plural, and option D uses a nonstandard -ing form.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “light snowfall”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.