lighthearted

B2 Topic:Describing Qualities

US /ˌlaɪtˈhɑrtɪd/ UK /ˌlaɪtˈhɑːtɪd/ See IPA manual

Freq #51854

Meanings

1

adj
cheerful and carefree, without anxiety or gloom

After weeks of worry, their lighthearted laughter was a welcome sound.
2

adj
amusing, playful, and not intended to be serious

The host kept the discussion lighthearted without ignoring the difficult issue.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 adj · cheerful and carefree,... carefree cheerful buoyant blithe easygoing

2 adj · amusing, playful, and not... playful jovial humorous jaunty

Opposites

serious solemn gloomyheavyheartedanxious

Word family

Derived forms lightheartedlylightheartedness

Related forms carefree mirth cheerfulnesslightheaded

Etymology

From Middle English light-hearted, a compound of light in the sense 'free from a burden' + hearted, 'having a specified disposition.' The word describes a heart figuratively unweighed by care. Lightheaded is similarly formed but has a distinct meaning and should not be confused with it.

Topics

Describing Qualities

External links

# lighthearted

**Type:** Word
**Level:** B2
**Part of speech:** adj
**IPA (US):** /ˌlaɪtˈhɑrtɪd/
**IPA (UK):** /ˌlaɪtˈhɑːtɪd/
**Frequency rank:** 51854

## Meanings
1. cheerful and carefree, without anxiety or gloom
2. amusing, playful, and not intended to be serious

## Examples
- After weeks of worry, their lighthearted laughter was a welcome sound.
- The host kept the discussion lighthearted without ignoring the difficult issue.

## Synonyms
- carefree
- cheerful
- buoyant
- blithe
- playful
- jovial
- easygoing

## Antonyms
- serious
- solemn
- gloomy
- heavyhearted
- anxious

## Derived Forms
- lightheartedly
- lightheartedness

## Related Forms
- carefree
- mirth
- cheerfulness
- lightheaded

## Etymology
From Middle English light-hearted, a compound of light in the sense 'free from a burden' + hearted, 'having a specified disposition.' The word describes a heart figuratively unweighed by care. Lightheaded is similarly formed but has a distinct meaning and should not be confused with it.

## Topics
- Describing Qualities

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