Meaning & use
light
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Meanings
noununcountable
The natural energy from the sun or a lamp that makes things visible.
Grammar: Uncountable when referring to the general phenomenon; countable when referring to a particular source, as in 'turn on the lights'.
Patterns
- light from something
- in the light
- by the light of something
The light from the window woke me up early.
Plants need light to grow.
She read by the light of a small lamp.
nouncountable
A device that produces light, such as a lamp or a traffic signal.
Grammar: Countable; often used in the plural when referring to multiple fixtures.
Patterns
- turn on/off the light
- the lights are on/off
- a traffic light
Please turn off the lights before you leave.
The traffic light turned red.
She bought a new light for her desk.
adjectivecomparable
Having little weight; not heavy or dense.
Grammar: Gradable; can be used with 'very' or in comparisons: 'lighter than air'.
Patterns
- light as something
- a light weight
- feel light
This bag is very light; I can carry it easily.
The chair is light enough to move with one hand.
She wore a light jacket in the warm weather.
adjectivecomparable
Not dark in color; pale.
Grammar: Used to describe colors or shades; often before a noun.
Patterns
- light blue/green/etc.
- a light color
He painted the walls a light blue.
She prefers light colors for summer clothes.
The room feels bigger because of the light walls.
verbtransitive or intransitive
To ignite something or cause it to start burning or shining.
Grammar: Can be used with an object (light a candle) or without (the fire lit quickly).
Patterns
- light a fire/candle
- light up
- the sky lit up
He lit a candle to help them see.
The fireworks lit up the night sky.
She struggled to light the stove.
Word forms
| plural | lights |
|---|---|
| third person singular | lights |
| past tense | lit |
| past participle | lit |
| -ing form | lighting |
| comparative | lighter |
| superlative | lightest |
Common combinations
- bright light
- The bright light made her squint.
- natural light
- The studio has plenty of natural light.
- turn on the light
- Could you turn on the light? It's dark in here.
- light up
- Her face lit up when she saw the gift.
- light as a feather
- The pillow was light as a feather.
Synonyms and how they differ
- illumination
- More formal and often refers to the amount or quality of light provided, especially in technical contexts.
- lamp
- A device that gives light; not the energy itself.
- glow
- A steady, soft light, often without flames; suggests warmth or faintness.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: light or lite? light or lightning?
light vs lite
An informal spelling meaning 'less heavy' or 'lower in calories', used especially on food labels; not a standard adjective.
light vs lightning
The flash of electricity in the sky; often confused in spelling with 'lighting' (the arrangement of lights).
Practice
Choose the correct word: 'The room was filled with ____ from the large windows.'
Choose one answer.
Light as an uncountable noun refers to the energy that makes things visible. 'A light' and 'lights' refer to devices, and 'lighting' refers to the equipment or arrangement, which doesn't fit the context of natural light from windows.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “light”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.