alight

C2+ Topic:Actions & Processes

US /əˈlaɪt/ UK /əˈlaɪt/ See IPA manual

Minimal pairs

Sounds like aright /l/ vs /r/

Meanings

1

verb
formal: to descend through the air and settle on a surface

A moth alighted on the edge of the lampshade.
2

verb
formal: to get off a vehicle or an animal that one has been riding

Passengers should alight from the rear of the bus.
3

verb
literary, with on or upon: to find or notice something by chance

While sorting the papers, she alighted on a letter she thought was lost.
4

adj
burning or on fire, usually used after a verb

By the time the fire crew arrived, the empty shed was alight.
5

adj
shining with light or illuminated, usually used after a verb

Every window in the theatre was alight before the doors opened.

2 more meanings

6

adj
literary, with: visibly full of a feeling such as excitement or happiness

His face was alight with excitement when he opened the invitation.
7

adj
literary, with: bright or vivid with colour

In late October the maples were alight with autumn colour.

Verb forms

Verb forms are not available for this word yet.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 verb · formal: to descend through... land settle perch

2 verb · formal: to get off a... disembark dismount

3 verb · literary, with on or upon:... come upondiscover

4 adj · burning or on fire, usually... ablaze aflame

5 adj · shining with light or... lit illuminated

6 adj · literary, with: visibly... aglow

7 adj · literary, with: bright or... vivid

More descend

Opposites

ascend take off mount

Word family

Related forms light

Etymology

From Middle English alighten, from Old English ālīhtan ('to dismount, descend'), from ā- (intensive prefix) + līhtan ('to relieve of weight, dismount'), from līht ('light, not heavy').

ālīhtan Old English *līhtijaną Proto-Germanic

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Actions & Processes

External links

# alight

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2+
**Part of speech:** verb, adj
**IPA (US):** /əˈlaɪt/
**IPA (UK):** /əˈlaɪt/

## Meanings
1. formal: to descend through the air and settle on a surface
2. formal: to get off a vehicle or an animal that one has been riding
3. literary, with on or upon: to find or notice something by chance
4. burning or on fire, usually used after a verb
5. shining with light or illuminated, usually used after a verb
6. literary, with: visibly full of a feeling such as excitement or happiness
7. literary, with: bright or vivid with colour

## Examples
- A moth alighted on the edge of the lampshade.
- Passengers should alight from the rear of the bus.
- While sorting the papers, she alighted on a letter she thought was lost.
- By the time the fire crew arrived, the empty shed was alight.
- Every window in the theatre was alight before the doors opened.
- His face was alight with excitement when he opened the invitation.
- In late October the maples were alight with autumn colour.

## Synonyms
- land
- perch
- settle
- dismount
- descend

## Antonyms
- ascend
- take off
- mount

## Related Forms
- light

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: ālīhtan
- Root: *līhtijaną

## Etymology
From Middle English alighten, from Old English ālīhtan ('to dismount, descend'), from ā- (intensive prefix) + līhtan ('to relieve of weight, dismount'), from līht ('light, not heavy').

## AI Etymology
Alight is from Middle English alighten, from Old English ālīhtan ('to dismount, descend'), from ā- (intensive prefix) + līhtan ('to relieve of weight, dismount'), from līht ('light, not heavy'). Important recorded forms include ālīhtan (Old English) and *līhtijaną (Proto-Germanic). Morphologically, the word is a built form whose named elements carry part of the historical sense. The current sense covers to descend and settle, as a bird; also on fire or lit up. The wider family includes related words such as light.

## Topics
- Actions & Processes

markdown