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Meaning & use

lighting

noun·Everyday

Last updated

UK/ˈlaɪtɪŋ/
US/ˈlaɪtɪŋ/

Meanings

  1. noununcountable

    The lamps, bulbs, or other equipment that provide light in a place.

    Grammar: Used as a mass noun: you talk about the lighting in a room, not 'a lighting'.

    Patterns

    • the lighting in something
    • good/bright/poor lighting
    • install lighting

    The lighting in this office is too dim for reading.

    They spent a lot of money on new lighting for the kitchen.

    Good lighting makes a small room feel bigger.

  2. noununcountable

    The way light is arranged or directed in a room, photograph, or film.

    Grammar: Still uncountable, but often used with words like dramatic or soft to describe the effect.

    Patterns

    • dramatic/soft/natural lighting
    • the lighting of a scene

    The film is famous for its dramatic lighting.

    The photographer adjusted the lighting before taking the portrait.

    Soft lighting gave the whole scene a calm mood.

  3. noununcountableformal

    The act of making something start to burn.

    Grammar: A formal or technical use, as in the lighting of a fire or a candle.

    Patterns

    • the lighting of something

    The lighting of the candles marked the start of the ceremony.

    Smoking is banned here, including the lighting of cigarettes.

Common combinations

good lighting
The museum has good lighting, so you can see every detail.
poor lighting
He fell on the stairs because of the poor lighting.
natural lighting
The studio relies on natural lighting from the big windows.
lighting fixture
We replaced the old lighting fixture above the table.
dramatic lighting
The play uses dramatic lighting to create shadows.

Synonyms and how they differ

illumination
A more formal or technical word for the light provided, not usually for the lamps themselves.
lights
Informal and plural; it refers to the lamps or bulbs rather than the overall arrangement.

Opposites

darkness

Word family

light noun
The brightness that lets you see things.
light verb
To make something start to burn, or to give light to a place.
lighted adjective
Burning or giving light, as in a lighted candle.

Commonly confused: lighting or lightning?

lighting vs lightning

Lightning is the bright flash in a storm; lighting is the light or lamps in a place. They differ by only one letter, so check your spelling.

Practice

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