alight 1 of 2

Definition of alightnext

alight

2 of 2

verb

1
as in to perch
to come to rest after descending from the air a flock of eight swans circled above, then alighted on the pond

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

2
as in to descend
to come down from something (as a vehicle) as she alighted from the train, she momentarily lost her footing

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of alight
Adjective
The massive stage comprised three ramps extending the length of a football field that were frequently alight in a Candyland of colors and two oversized video screens flanking a metallic structure that looked like an inverted ski jump. Edward Segarra, USA Today, 21 May 2026 Participants set a ring of fire alight in the street. Jesse Zanger, CBS News, 24 Apr. 2026
Verb
Just as the sun prepared to sink beyond the escarpments, its rays struck every piece of the fractured glass resting on top of the window frames, alighting all of them at once, as if they were shot with electricity. New York Times, 16 Mar. 2026 Rebecca ends with the housekeeper (also obsessed with the dead Rebecca) setting the house alight. Meg Walters, Glamour, 9 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for alight
Recent Examples of Synonyms for alight
Adjective
  • Taking place at Del Mar Fairgrounds, this show will blend advanced drone choreography with the unforgettable music and iconic moments from the Harry Potter film series, featuring 1,200 illuminated drones soaring across the night sky.
    Ut Community Press, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 June 2026
  • Best Things to Do The Grandin Theatre Showing new and classic movies, The Grandin Theatre anchors the historic Grandin Village district with its dazzling art deco design and an illuminated marquee that transports visitors to the golden age of cinema.
    Julekha Dash, Travel + Leisure, 6 June 2026
Adjective
  • Please tell me the sequel could answer the most burning question of the ’00s: How could Austin not recognize Sam in that mask?
    Stephanie McNeal, Glamour, 13 Aug. 2025
  • Cooper, 30, asked Hargitay one more burning question about the actors' on-screen alter egos: will Olivia and Elliot ever end up together?
    Victoria Edel, People.com, 26 June 2025
Verb
  • Gillette Castle State Park in Connecticut Gillette Castle State Park feels like stepping into a storybook perched above the Connecticut River.
    Staff, USA Today, 8 June 2026
  • Suzanna waits for hours in the bank’s vestibule—that practical but indeterminate space shielding the true interior from the intemperate outdoors—much to the bewilderment of the young security guard perched on a stool nearby.
    Laura Miller, The New York Review of Books, 6 June 2026
Verb
  • Each spring the skies over central Nebraska fill with a special sound—a rolling, trumpeting, almost prehistoric chorus—as a slew of sandhill cranes descend on the wide and shallow reaches of the Platte River.
    Arati Menon, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 June 2026
  • The Bay Area missed out on hosting powerhouse nations such as Germany, Spain, Brazil or France, but the eight countries set to descend on the region still have a healthy amount of star power on their rosters, even if there is no Lionel Messi or Lamine Yamal to be seen.
    Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 7 June 2026
Adjective
  • Five pockets, a mid-rise fit, and a polished-looking crossover design make this style stock-up-worthy in both the black and light washes.
    Olivia Cigliano, InStyle, 11 June 2026
  • The chicken is what transforms it from a lighter salad into a complete, satisfying meal that actually holds you over.
    Jennifer Klump, Verywell Health, 11 June 2026
Adjective
  • Plants must endure and thrive through soft morning light and blazing summer afternoons, through shade one moment and full sun the next.
    Quanta Magazine, Quanta Magazine, 4 May 2026
  • The plants are hardy in the South in USDA Zones 3-9, and the flowers of many blazing star species linger for a long time during the blooming season.
    Patricia S York, Southern Living, 18 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Just an hour-and-a-half drive from Buffalo Bill State Park lands you in Thermopolis, home of Hot Springs State Park.
    Meghan Palmer, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 June 2026
  • While the men who landed on the beaches of Normandy are remembered each year, Museum officials said the women on the home front played an essential role in making Allied victory possible.
    Jasmine Baehr, FOXNews.com, 7 June 2026
Verb
  • Ukrainian drones monitor these areas for resupply movement by small trucks, ground robots, or dismounted troops.
    Vikram Mittal, Forbes.com, 14 May 2026
  • Chiles, though, did rebound with a clean beam and dismount for a 9.9500 score to get the Bruins back in it.
    Marisa Ingemi, Los Angeles Times, 17 Apr. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Alight.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/alight. Accessed 13 Jun. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on alight

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster