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Meaning & use

lightning

noun, adjective·Everyday

Last updated

UK/ˈlaɪtnɪŋ/
US/ˈlaɪtnɪŋ/

Meanings

  1. noununcountable

    A sudden bright flash of light in the sky caused by electricity during a storm.

    Grammar: Uncountable: 'a flash of lightning', not 'a lightning'.

    Patterns

    • a flash of lightning
    • lightning strikes
    • thunder and lightning

    We saw a flash of lightning and then heard thunder.

    Lightning struck the old oak tree last night.

    The storm brought heavy rain and frequent lightning.

  2. adjectivebefore a noun

    Extremely fast, like a flash of lightning.

    Grammar: Used before a noun: 'a lightning speed' or in the phrase 'lightning fast'.

    Patterns

    • lightning speed
    • lightning fast
    • lightning quick

    She finished the puzzle at lightning speed.

    The runner was lightning fast and won easily.

    The company responded to the complaint with lightning quickness.

Common combinations

a flash of lightning
A flash of lightning lit up the whole sky.
lightning strike
The lightning strike caused a power cut.
lightning speed
The news spread at lightning speed.
thunder and lightning
The children were scared of the thunder and lightning.

Synonyms and how they differ

flash
A general word for a sudden bright light; lightning is specifically the weather phenomenon.
bolt
Often used for a single powerful stroke of lightning, as in 'a bolt of lightning'.

Word family

light noun
Brightness that lets us see things; lightning is a special kind of light.

Commonly confused: lightning or lightening?

lightning vs lightening

Lightening means making something lighter or brighter; lightning is the electrical flash.

Practice

During the storm, we saw a bright ___ in the sky.

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