lightheaded
adjective
light·head·ed
ˈlīt-ˌhe-dəd 
variants
or light-headed
1
: experiencing a feeling that one might faint often along with a sensation of dizziness
Unaccustomed to the heat … and the farmer's failure to provide drinking water, I got lightheaded.—
George Dardess
George DardessI am light-headed from the altitude …—Tony Ortega
Tony Ortega2
: lacking in maturity or seriousness : frivolous
The theories are light-headed enough, but they at least indicate some connection with twentieth-century experience.—Louis Menand
Louis Menand
lightheadedly
adverb
or light-headedly
… when the moral of the story is stated one last time, the tone veers jarringly from solemn to lightheadedly saccharine.
—Stephen Holden
Stephen Holden
lightheadedness
noun
or light-headedness
He experienced mild light-headedness when the palpitations first started …
—Fred Morady et al.
Fred Morady et al.
Examples of lightheaded in a Sentence
I always get light-headed after riding roller coasters, even when I'm standing still again
we couldn't concentrate on our work because we were feeling so light-headed
Recent Examples on the Web
After taking the medication he was given, Ladd became extremely tired, dizzy and lightheaded, according to court documents.
—Kansas City Star, 10 July 2025
Nitrous oxide also blocks certain neurotransmitters and triggers the release of endorphins, creating a lightheaded, euphoric sensation, hence its appeal as a recreational drug.
—Bradley Hohulin, IndyStar, 2 July 2025
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) was taken to a Washington-area hospital Wednesday after becoming lightheaded at the Senate gym during the morning.
—Al Weaver, The Hill, 25 June 2025
But at the same time, the physical manifestations of anxiety symptoms like a racing heart and shortness of breath could certainly leave you feeling lightheaded (which might just exacerbate your anxiety, kicking off a vicious cycle).
—Rachel Nall, SELF, 17 June 2025
Huffing the chemicals causes a person to feel drunk, euphoric, hallucinogenic or lightheaded for a short high.
—Caroline Blair, People.com, 9 June 2025
Low Blood Sugar Low blood sugar can lead to feeling lightheaded because your body requires sugar to function on a cellular level.
—Angelica Bottaro, Verywell Health, 4 June 2025
As some may experience headaches and feel lightheaded, experts recommend that patients have someone drive them home after the therapy.
—Shiv Sudhakar, FOXNews.com, 21 Apr. 2025
About 25 minutes in, while holding a pose with one leg up and her foot clasped in her hand, Ms. Carbone began to feel lightheaded and took a sip from her water bottle.
—Gina Cherelus, New York Times, 28 Mar. 2025
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Kansas City Star, 10 July 2025
Nitrous oxide also blocks certain neurotransmitters and triggers the release of endorphins, creating a lightheaded, euphoric sensation, hence its appeal as a recreational drug.
—Bradley Hohulin, IndyStar, 2 July 2025
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) was taken to a Washington-area hospital Wednesday after becoming lightheaded at the Senate gym during the morning.
—Al Weaver, The Hill, 25 June 2025
But at the same time, the physical manifestations of anxiety symptoms like a racing heart and shortness of breath could certainly leave you feeling lightheaded (which might just exacerbate your anxiety, kicking off a vicious cycle).
—Rachel Nall, SELF, 17 June 2025
Huffing the chemicals causes a person to feel drunk, euphoric, hallucinogenic or lightheaded for a short high.
—Caroline Blair, People.com, 9 June 2025
Low Blood Sugar Low blood sugar can lead to feeling lightheaded because your body requires sugar to function on a cellular level.
—Angelica Bottaro, Verywell Health, 4 June 2025
As some may experience headaches and feel lightheaded, experts recommend that patients have someone drive them home after the therapy.
—Shiv Sudhakar, FOXNews.com, 21 Apr. 2025
About 25 minutes in, while holding a pose with one leg up and her foot clasped in her hand, Ms. Carbone began to feel lightheaded and took a sip from her water bottle.
—Gina Cherelus, New York Times, 28 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Lightheaded.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lightheaded. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.
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