verb

lit

LIHT

verb

Past tense and past participle of light, used for setting something on fire or turning on a light.

"She lit the candles before her guests arrived."

adj

Having light shining on or in it; illuminated.

"The street was well lit even at midnight."

(informal) Drunk or high.

"He got a little lit at the office party."

(slang) Exciting, excellent, or full of energy.

"That concert last night was absolutely lit."

How to Use Lit

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishSet on fire, switched on, or (in slang) drunk / thrilling.

When to use it

The "drunk" and "exciting" senses are casual slang — avoid them in formal writing.

Word Forms

more lit comparative, litter comparative, more lit comparative, litted past tense, litted past tense, lits singular, lits singular, most lit superlative, littest superlative, most lit superlative

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She _____ the candles before her guests arrived.

Etymology

An old alternative past tense of "light," formed by analogy with words like bit and fit; the slang senses (drunk, excellent) developed much more recently in the 20th and 21st centuries.

Rhymes for lit

slit clit flit split moonlit whatchamacallit

See all rhymes for lit →