light-up

Meanings

1. 1adjectivebefore a noun

   Made with a built-in lamp or lights that glow, often when switched on or when moved.

   Grammar: Always goes before a noun and takes a hyphen: light-up sneakers. The phrasal verb has no hyphen: the sign lights up.

   Patterns

   • light-up toy
   • light-up sign

   The toddler loved her light-up sneakers that flashed with every step.

   We hung a light-up star on top of the tree.

   He bought a light-up globe for his desk.

2. 2nouncountableinformal

   An item or display that glows with built-in lights, as used in the phrase light-ups.

   Grammar: Informal and uncommon on its own; usually plural in shop language: kids' light-ups.

   Patterns

   • a pair of light-ups

   She wore her light-ups to the school play.

   The store has a shelf of light-ups for toddlers.

   Light-ups are popular at night parades.

Word forms

Common combinations

light-up shoes

Her light-up shoes flash red with each step.

light-up sign

A light-up sign marks the entrance to the diner.

light-up toy

The baby grabbed the light-up toy and laughed.

light-up keyboard

A light-up keyboard helps him type in the dark.

light-up display

The shop window had a bright light-up display.

Synonyms and how they differ

illuminated

Illuminated is more formal and describes anything lit up, while light-up names a product designed with built-in lights.

glowing

Glowing describes what the item is doing right now, while light-up describes what it is designed to do.

lit

Lit is a plain past participle used for anything with lights on, not just products made to glow.

Opposites

Word family

light up verb

to start to glow, or to become bright with happiness

lit adjective

having light shining on or in it

lighting noun

the way light is arranged or supplied

Commonly confused: light-up or light up?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “light-up”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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