lightning

1 of 3

noun

light·​ning ˈlīt-niŋ How to pronounce lightning (audio)
1
: the flashing of light produced by a discharge of atmospheric electricity
also : the discharge itself
2
: a sudden stroke of fortune
… candidates … hoping for real lightning to strike …Time

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

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
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.
Noun
But the volume and intensity of the songs—with thumping sub-bass and lightning-crack drums—were visceral. Daniel Dylan Wray, Pitchfork, 5 Nov. 2025 Partially funded by the Boeing Company, one of the largest aerospace companies in the world, the project aims to help future aircraft designs integrate lightning protection systems more efficiently from the start of the engineering process. Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 5 Nov. 2025
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 See All Example Sentences for lightning

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of lightning was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Lightning.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lightning. Accessed 9 Nov. 2025.

Kids Definition

lightning

1 of 2 noun
light·​ning ˈlīt-niŋ How to pronounce lightning (audio)
: 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

More from Merriam-Webster on lightning

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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