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
Relevance
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
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
USA Today, 14 Aug. 2025
My hands smeared in gore, eyes alight with frenzied ecstasy.
—Literary Hub, 17 July 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
Flames and dark smoke billowed over a cement factory that was set alight by a wildfire that swept through olive groves and forests and disrupted rail traffic on the outskirts of the Greek city of Patras, west of Athens.
—USA Today, 14 Aug. 2025
My hands smeared in gore, eyes alight with frenzied ecstasy.
—Literary Hub, 17 July 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
-
There's a Shimano shifter to the right and useful illuminated buttons to the left for adjusting PAS, sounding the horn, engaging turn signaling, and activating walk-assist.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
22 Oct. 2025
-
That will have an effect on wildlife in the directly illuminated area, but also, through atmospheric scattering, on the surrounding areas as well.—
Tereza Pultarova,
Space.com,
21 Oct. 2025
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
-
In late June, the building is perched amid lush green trees that cover the mountain’s base.—
Liz Provencher,
Travel + Leisure,
21 Oct. 2025
-
According to Carscoops, early renderings reveal a low-slung front end, circular headlights, a modest front grille, and a compact cockpit, complemented by wing mirrors perched high on the A-pillars.—
Jijo Malayil,
Interesting Engineering,
20 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Its crumbling buildings swallowed by greenery are starkly beautiful and deeply eerie, even more so as the cooler seasons creep in and sea mists descend.—
Maureen O'Hare,
CNN Money,
18 Oct. 2025
-
With sunflower sea stars suddenly all but gone from their home range, sea urchin numbers exploded, and the hungry urchin hordes descended upon kelp forests.—
JSTOR Daily,
JSTOR Daily,
17 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Blooms reach five inches across and appear in flaming red, pink, yellow, orange, and in all possible versions and mixtures of these colors.—
Joshua Siskin,
Oc Register,
11 Oct. 2025
-
Spotify also shared a graphic of the same design on Instagram, captioning it simply with a key emoji and flaming heart.—
Hannah Dailey,
Billboard,
29 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Rossi’s centering pass landed perfectly on Tarasenko’s stick blade, and the veteran ripped a rising shot over the shoulder of Flyers goalie Dan Vladar.—
Jess Myers,
Twin Cities,
19 Oct. 2025
-
He was traded to the Mariners in January 2012 as part of a deal that landed Michael Pineda and Jose Campos in pinstripes.—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
19 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
After having dismounted, the person crossed the street and moved into a wooded area.—
Rebecca Shabad,
NBC news,
12 Sep. 2025
-
This enables wide distribution across the front lines, especially in areas where soldiers are primarily dismounted.—
Vikram Mittal,
Forbes.com,
9 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
In nuclear thermal rockets, a small nuclear reactor heats up a propellant — often liquid hydrogen — to blazing temperatures in the thousands of degrees.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
15 Oct. 2025
-
Someone with the blazing speed of Shaheed to pair alongside the physical playing style of DK Metcalf would certainly seem to be a great fit on paper for the Steelers.—
Reice Shipley,
MSNBC Newsweek,
9 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Alight.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/alight. Accessed 26 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share