alight
alight Lexical Profile
alight Game Scores & Validity
• adjective
On fire; burning.
"Dry leaves near the campfire quickly caught a spark and were soon alight."
Shining brightly; illuminated or animated with light or excitement.
"The children's faces were alight with anticipation as the curtain rose."
• verb
To descend from a train, bus, or other form of transport, or to dismount from a horse.
"Passengers are requested to wait until the train comes to a complete stop before attempting to alight."
To descend from the air and settle on a surface (especially of a bird or insect).
"A vibrant kingfisher alighted on a low branch overhanging the riverbank."
To happen upon or notice something by chance (usually followed by 'on' or 'upon').
"While browsing the archives, her eyes alighted upon an unpublished manuscript."
Word Nuance & Usage
As an adjective, 'alight' is strictly predicative, meaning it is placed after a linking verb (e.g., 'the lantern was alight') rather than directly before a noun.
• Rhymes for alight
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
As a verb meaning to descend, it derives from Old English 'alihtan', literally meaning 'to lighten the burden of a horse by dismounting'. As an adjective meaning burning or illuminated, it developed in Middle English from the phrase 'on liht' ('on light').