alight

1 of 2

verb

ə-ˈlīt 

alighted also alit ə-ˈlit  ; alighting

intransitive verb

1

: to come down from something (such as a vehicle): such as

a

: dismount

They alighted from the bus.

b

: deplane

2

: to descend from or as if from the air and come to rest : land, settle

The bird alighted on a branch.

snow alighting on a roof

3

archaic : to come by chance

alightment

ə-ˈlīt-mənt 

noun

alight

2 of 2

adjective

1

chiefly British : being on fire

2

: lighted up

The sky was alight with stars.

Synonyms of alight

Verb

• perch
• land
• light

Adjective

• illuminated
• lit
• illumined
• light
• bright

Examples of alight in a Sentence

Verb

A group of tourists alighted from the boat.

a flock of eight swans circled above, then alighted on the pond

Adjective

The sky was alight with stars.

Enemy soldiers set the building alight.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

The book always came to mind when taking a walk out in the forest and seeing the hypnotic curl of a fern or a bird alighting on a branch inches away from me. — Harry Bennett, Space.com, 19 Aug. 2026

Over the past few months, Ukraine has put Russia on the back foot with strikes that have hit Russia’s oil refining capacity, caused long lines at fuel stations and set commercial logistics centers alight. — Nathan Hodge, CNN Money, 7 Aug. 2026

Adjective

Moe then reportedly set the firework alight while the child was holding on to it and the device erupted in her hand, per the outlet, citing a complaint. — Gina Kalsi, PEOPLE, 14 Aug. 2026

The children are dismembered and penetrated, flayed alive, disemboweled, and their intestines set alight. — Literary Hub, 12 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English alighten "to descend, get off (of), dismount," going back to Old English alīhtan (transitive) "to lighten, relieve," (intransitive) "to descend, get off (of)," from a-, perfective prefix + līhtan "to make lighter, descend, dismount" — more at abide, light entry 6

Adjective

Middle English alyht, alight, past participle of alighten "to set on fire, kindle, shed spiritual light on," going back to Old English alīhtan "to illuminate, light up," from a-, perfective prefix + līhtan "to shed light, set on fire" — more at abide, light entry 3

Note: In Modern English reanalyzed as a- entry 1 + light entry 1, by analogy with ablaze, afire, aflame.

First Known Use

Verb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing alight

• alight on/upon
• set the world alight

Rhymes for alight

• affright
• airtight
• albite
• alright
• aplite
• aright
• bainite
• birthright
• bobwhite
• bornite
• bullfight
• calcite

Kids Definition

alight

1 of 2 verb

ə-ˈlīt 

alighted

-ˈlīt-əd

also alit ə-ˈlit  ; alighting

1

: to get down : dismount

2

: to descend from the air and settle : land

the bird alighted on a twig

alight

2 of 2 adjective

: full of light : lighted up

the sky was alight with stars