How to Use lightly in a Sentence

lightly

adverb

• She moved lightly across the room.
• The judge let her off lightly with a short sentence.
• He talks lightly about the problems he's been having at work.
• Our troops were armed too lightly to take on the heavily armed invaders.
• Considering the harm he did, he's gotten off lightly with only a warning.
• These vegetables can be eaten either raw or lightly cooked.
• In a large bowl lightly beat the eggs.
  — Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 Feb. 2026
• Stir lightly with a long spoon.
  — Midwest Living, 14 May 2026
• And that may be putting it lightly.
  — Michael Hurley, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 Sep. 2025
• Wipe and lightly scrub spills and crumbs away.
  — Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 4 Sep. 2025
• Brush the cut sides lightly with olive oil.
  — ABC News, 27 May 2026
• Yeah, that’s putting it lightly.
  — Literary Hub, 5 Nov. 2025
• Dust your hands with flour and lightly flour the first dough ball.
  — Time, 12 Aug. 2021
• The Knicks know not to take them lightly.
  — Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 7 June 2026
• First, lightly rub chalk and spread chalk dust around the area to loosen the grease.
  — Emily Benda Gaylord, The Spruce, 5 July 2026
• In a medium bowl, mash beans lightly with a fork.
  — Bethany Thayer, Freep.com, 24 Aug. 2025
• His daughter did not get off so lightly.
  — Helen Regan, CNN Money, 9 Sep. 2025
• Use your brush to lightly rub it into the fibers.
  — Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 26 Jan. 2026
• Use your brush to lightly rub it into the fibers.
  — Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 6 Oct. 2025
• Sweep the tool lightly under the eyes and across the face.
  — Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Kansas City Star, 24 Apr. 2026
• Sweep the tool lightly under the eyes and across the face.
  — Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Charlotte Observer, 23 Apr. 2026
• Tamp down the area lightly to help settle the seed.
  — Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 17 Oct. 2025
• Set it in a bright, warm spot, and water lightly.
  — Cameron Beall, Southern Living, 8 Jan. 2026
• For wood, use a lightly damp mop — not soaking wet.
  — Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Kansas City Star, 27 Apr. 2026
• Mix water with mild soap, scrub lightly and rinse.
  — Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Sacbee.com, 15 Apr. 2026
• Agnes should lightly protest the drink and then relent.
  — Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 22 Apr. 2026
• They should be lightly browned and smell nutty.
  — Kathryn Gregory, Louisville Courier Journal, 14 Oct. 2025
• The seedlings should be lightly fed every two weeks.
  — Kerry Michaels, The Spruce, 21 Jan. 2026
• Pat or lightly roll dough until ¾ inch thick.
  — Jenavieve Christensen, Better Homes & Gardens, 29 Jan. 2026
• Press the mixture down lightly, just enough to fill in the gaps.
  — Melinda Salchert, Southern Living, 1 Nov. 2025