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
1
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."
2
To land after flying, or to come to rest somewhere.
"A butterfly alighted on the windowsill."
adj
1
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 notesIn 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
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- alights
- Past tense
- alighted, alit
- Archaic forms
- alightest, alightedst, alighteth
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".
Related words
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.
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