lightning

1 of 3

noun

light·​ning ˈlīt-niŋ 

1

: the flashing of light produced by a discharge of atmospheric electricity

a flash/bolt/streak of lightning

… pink lightning skittered across the black sky …

—Edward Abbey

I saw lightning in the distance as the first sheets of rain rushed toward us …

—Anne Vilen

also : the discharge itself

a tree struck by lightning

cloud-to-ground lightning

2

: a sudden stroke of fortune

On a team filled with stars … the standbys … face a frustrating spring followed by a long summer … waiting for lightning to strike.

—Joseph Durso

lightning

2 of 3

adjective

: having or moving with or as if with the speed and suddenness of lightning

a lightning assault

lightning

3 of 3

verb

lightninged; lightning

intransitive verb

: to discharge a flash of lightning

Synonyms of lightning

Adjective

• rapid
• quick
• fast
• brisk
• galloping
• swift

Examples of lightning in a Sentence

Adjective

thoughts moving at lightning speed

he made a lightning dash for the goal

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Sunday’s tragedy comes just days after a Florida Keys charter fishing boat captain was hospitalized after being hit by a lightning bolt on Florida Bay. — David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 24 Aug. 2026

The Chipmunk and Vulture fires were caused by lightning, according to the press release. — Sarah Perkel, USA Today, 24 Aug. 2026

Adjective

Digital assets are moving at hyper-lightning speed. — Manny Khan, Forbes.com, 14 May 2026

Verb

As art, the districts are a whimsical collection of fire-breathing dragons, lightning bolts and doodlebugs. — Dallas News, 3 Jan. 2023

This approach is still not lightning quick; red kidney beans take longer to get tender than many varieties. — Joe Yonan, Washington Post, 11 Dec. 2022

Word History

Etymology

Noun, Adjective, and Verb

Middle English, from gerund of lightenen to lighten

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1576, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1861, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing lightning

• at lightning speed
• ball lightning
• catch/capture lightning in a bottle
• heat lightning
• lightning arrester
• lightning bug
• lightning conductor
• lightning never strikes (the same place) twice
• lightning rod
• lightning strike
• like (greased) lightning
• sheet lightning
• white lightning

Kids Definition

lightning

1 of 2 noun

light·​ning ˈlīt-niŋ 

: the flashing of light produced by a discharge of atmospheric electricity from one cloud to another or between a cloud and the earth

also : the discharge itself

lightning

2 of 2 adjective

: moving or done with or as if with the speed of lightning