1
as in illuminated
filled with much light
we approached the clearing, alight with torches, and observed a reenactment of ancient rites by Druids
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in burning
chiefly British
being on fire
the pub, one of London's oldest, was completely alight by the time firefighters arrived
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of alight
Robert Lea, Space.com, 17 June 2025
Although no one knew anything for sure, social media was already alight with speculation; local police were on-site asking questions, and shortly after 8:00, rescue boats were spotted on the water, as a team of divers prepared to search for a body around the floor of the lake.
—Calum Marsh, Rolling Stone, 14 June 2025
Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 5 Aug. 2025
Soon the reasoning for that bit of concealment becomes clear: a team of bounty hunters has alighted on the town, looking for someone named Washington Black.
—Vinson Cunningham, New Yorker, 2 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for alight
Adjective
Rather, the whole cluster is alight, with a faint radio wave glow that's about 189 times as wide as the Milky Way.
—Robert Lea, Space.com, 17 June 2025
Although no one knew anything for sure, social media was already alight with speculation; local police were on-site asking questions, and shortly after 8:00, rescue boats were spotted on the water, as a team of divers prepared to search for a body around the floor of the lake.
—Calum Marsh, Rolling Stone, 14 June 2025
Verb
Sound of Falling skips back and forth through time, alighting on moments of both horror and grace across a century in the lives of four women—adolescent and adult—inhabiting the same unsettled spaces.
—Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 5 Aug. 2025
Soon the reasoning for that bit of concealment becomes clear: a team of bounty hunters has alighted on the town, looking for someone named Washington Black.
—Vinson Cunningham, New Yorker, 2 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for alight
Recent Examples of Synonyms for alight
Adjective
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At the heart of the park is another immersive extravaganza as footage of seascapes and schools of fish swirls dizzyingly around one of the world’s biggest wraparound screens whilst drones which look like illuminated jellyfish fill the air.—
Caroline Reid,
Forbes.com,
8 Sep. 2025
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LEDs replace chrome, and there's a new take on BMW's usual four headlights, although the illuminated kidney grill is an option, not mandatory.—
Jonathan M. Gitlin,
ArsTechnica,
5 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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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
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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
-
Liguria, the region of northwest Italy perched on the Portofino coast, offers countless picturesque villages and coves to explore.—
Francesca Longoni,
Architectural Digest,
16 Sep. 2025
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Another, also built from white disks on a bending wire, evokes a mechanized Japanese cherry tree, its circles—perched high on a narrow stem—not revolving so much as brushing quickly past one another.—
Adam Gopnik,
New Yorker,
15 Sep. 2025
Verb
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To manage the thousands of people who descend daily, operators have studied visitors’ behavior and engineered their parks to move people around without anyone realizing they’re being nudged.—
Bianca Bosker,
The Atlantic,
14 Sep. 2025
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In September and October, the core of the Milky Way is visible as soon as twilight descends.—
Stephanie Vermillion,
Travel + Leisure,
14 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Competition, passive-aggressive zingers and hard feelings turn their relationship into a flaming hot mess.—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
26 Aug. 2025
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Firemen spoke of seeing tenants sitting outside flaming buildings with their belongings neatly arranged beside them.—
Daniel Immerwahr,
New Yorker,
18 Aug. 2025
Verb
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That’s why an unpolished moment on a stage as big as the Emmys lands harder than expected.—
Vibhas Ratanjee,
Forbes.com,
15 Sep. 2025
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Indonesia has submitted films since 1987 but has yet to land a nomination in the category, previously known as best foreign language film.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
14 Sep. 2025
Verb
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This enables wide distribution across the front lines, especially in areas where soldiers are primarily dismounted.—
Vikram Mittal,
Forbes.com,
9 Sep. 2025
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The new cleat should be particularly appealing to racers – who need to snap back in as quickly as possible after dismounting – and to riders who are intimidated by the learning curve involved in using clipless pedals for the first time.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
28 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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In the photo, the reflection of the setting sun over the ocean creates a dramatic, blazing orange cross.—
Samantha Dunn,
Oc Register,
9 Sep. 2025
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The book was a blazing, harrowing, comic coming-of-age story tracing McCurdy’s relationship with her abusive mother as a child actor.—
Anna Cafolla,
Vogue,
28 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Alight.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/alight. Accessed 17 Sep. 2025.
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