alight

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

Synonyms of alight

• perch
• land
• light

Examples of alight in a Sentence

A group of tourists alighted from the boat.

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

Recent Examples on the Web

Its blockbuster Art Deco-at-100 show wrapped its run last month and attracted more than 500,000 visitors, while its Iris Van Herpen retrospective recently alighted at the Brooklyn Museum, further elaborating on centuries of Franco-American friendship and cultural exchange. —Miles Socha, Footwear News, 26 May 2026

The story will alight on themes central to Park’s oeuvre of vengeance, retribution, the consequences of violence and the power of memory and family, but this time in the American West. —Justin Kroll, Deadline, 24 Apr. 2026

Four alighted on a paper towel dispenser. —David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 24 Apr. 2026

Then, while Louise was peering through the letterbox, our mother alighted from the back of a black cab. —Douglas Stuart, New Yorker, 12 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

before the 12th 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