verb

alight

uh-LYT

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

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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".