lightly

adverb

light·​ly ˈlīt-lē How to pronounce lightly (audio)
: in a light manner: such as
a
: with little weight or force : gently
b
: with indifference or carelessness : unconcernedly
the problem should not be passed over lightlyShelly Halpern
c
: with little difficulty : easily
e
: in an agile manner : nimbly, swiftly
the cat leapt lightly onto the table
f
: in a small degree or amount
lightly salted food

Examples of lightly in a Sentence

He talks lightly about the problems he's been having at work. She moved lightly across the room. These vegetables can be eaten either raw or lightly cooked. Our troops were armed too lightly to take on the heavily armed invaders. Considering the harm he did, he's gotten off lightly with only a warning. The judge let her off lightly with a short sentence.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
To complete the sequence, Gray returned to his love and lightly touched hands before drinking a potion to join him in eternity. Melissa Ruggieri, USA Today, 8 Sep. 2025 Meanwhile, lightly grease a 13x9x2-inch baking pan; set aside. Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 Sep. 2025 This is an open-box unit, meaning it was returned unused or lightly handled and repackaged after inspection. PC Magazine, 6 Sep. 2025 Get the recipe > Sweet corn is lightly sizzled in ghee and tossed with juicy tomatoes, peppery dandelion greens, and smoky blue cheese for a salad that’s equal parts sweet, bitter, and tangy. Saveur Editors, Saveur, 4 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for lightly

Word History

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of lightly was before the 12th century

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Cite this Entry

“Lightly.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lightly. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.

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