: the flashes of light that are produced in the sky during a storm
a bolt of lightning = a lightning bolt
a flash of lightning
The tree was hit/struck by lightning. = The tree was hit by a lightning strike.
always used before a noun
: moving or done very quickly
thoughts moving at lightning speed
Cite this Entry
“Lightning.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/lightning. Accessed 23 Jun. 2026.
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