verb

alight

uh-LYT

Alight (verb) means to get off a vehicle or dismount from an animal. Example: “Passengers should alight from the train on the left side.”

verb

To get off a vehicle or dismount from an animal.

"Passengers should alight from the train on the left side."

"She alighted from the carriage and walked toward the house."

To land after flying, or to come to rest somewhere.

"A butterfly alighted on the windowsill."

adj

On fire, or lit up with light.

"The bonfire was set alight just after dark."

"Her eyes were alight with excitement."

How to use alight

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishTo step down from something (a bus, a horse) or land somewhere; as an adjective, on fire or glowing.

Common pairings

alight from the bus set alight eyes alight

Word forms

alighted past tense, alit past tense, alit past tense, alighted past tense, alight plural, alighted plural, alights singular, alights singular, alight singular, alighted singular, alightest singular, alightedst singular, alighteth singular

Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.

Test yourself on “alight” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

Passengers should _____ from the train on the left side.

Etymology

From Old English alihtan, a combination of a- ("off, away") and lihtan ("to make light, to descend"), related to the word "light".

Origin: Old English

Frequently asked questions

What does “alight” mean?

The word “alight” means to get off a vehicle or dismount from an animal. In plain terms, to step down from something (a bus, a horse) or land somewhere; as an adjective, on fire or glowing.

How do you pronounce “alight”?

“Alight” is pronounced uh-LYT (/əˈlaɪt/ in IPA).

How do you use “alight” in a sentence?

Here is “alight” used in a sentence: “Passengers should alight from the train on the left side.”

What part of speech is “alight”?

Depending on how it is used, “alight” can be a verb and an adjective.

Where does the word “alight” come from?

The word “alight” comes from Old English. From Old English alihtan, a combination of a- ("off, away") and lihtan ("to make light, to descend"), related to the word "light".

How many meanings does “alight” have?

“Alight” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to get off a vehicle or dismount from an animal.

Featured in

Vocabulary lists that include alight:

Words with old & middle English origins