lightning
LYT-nihng
Lightning (noun) means the bright flash of light in the sky during a storm, caused by electricity passing between clouds or between a cloud and the ground. Example: “We counted the seconds between the lightning and the thunder to see how far away the storm was.”
noun
1
The bright flash of light in the sky during a storm, caused by electricity passing between clouds or between a cloud and the ground.
"We counted the seconds between the lightning and the thunder to see how far away the storm was."
"Tall trees are dangerous places to shelter because lightning often strikes them."
"A flash of lightning lit up the whole valley."
adj
1
Extremely fast, as if moving at the speed of an electrical flash in the sky.
"The shop offered a lightning delivery service that arrived within the hour."
"With lightning reflexes, the goalkeeper saved the penalty."
"He reacted with lightning speed."
verb
1
To produce flashes of lightning during a storm.
"The sky lightninged so often that we gave up trying to sleep."
"It began to lightning over the hills just as we reached the tent."
"It thundered and lightninged all through the night."
How to use lightning
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishDescribing something extremely fast, from the flash of electricity seen in storms.
Common mistake
Don't confuse with "lightening" (making lighter) — a very common spelling mix-up.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
lightning speed
lightning fast
lightning strike
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- lightnings
- Past tense
- lightninged
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
We counted the seconds between the _____ and the thunder to see how far away the storm was.
Etymology
From lighten + -ing; a doublet of "lightening," though the two words diverged in spelling and meaning.
Synonyms
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Frequently asked questions
What does “lightning” mean?
The word “lightning” means extremely fast, as if moving at the speed of an electrical flash in the sky. In plain terms, describing something extremely fast, from the flash of electricity seen in storms.
How do you pronounce “lightning”?
“Lightning” is pronounced LYT-nihng (/ˈlaɪt.nɪŋ/ in IPA).
How do you use “lightning” in a sentence?
Here is “lightning” used in a sentence: “He reacted with lightning speed.”
What part of speech is “lightning”?
Depending on how it is used, “lightning” can be an adjective and a verb.
Is “lightning” a common word?
“Lightning” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “lightning” have?
“Lightning” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: extremely fast, as if moving at the speed of an electrical flash in the sky.
What is the difference between 'lightning' and 'lightening'?
'Lightning' refers to the electrical flash in the sky and, by extension, to something extremely fast. 'Lightening' is a form of the verb 'lighten', meaning making lighter in weight or colour. The spelling difference is the middle 'e', which only 'lightening' has.
What is the difference between 'lightning' and 'thunder'?
Lightning is the flash of light produced during a storm, while thunder is the loud sound that follows it. The light travels faster than the sound, which is why you usually see the lightning before you hear the thunder.
Is it 'lightning fast' or 'lightning-fast'?
Both appear, and the hyphenated form 'lightning-fast' is standard when the phrase comes before a noun, as in 'a lightning-fast response'. Either way it means extremely fast, taking its force from the speed of a lightning flash.
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