Synonyms of alight

alight 1 of 2

adjective

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

• illuminated
• lit
• illumined
• light
• bright
• brightened
• ablaze
• lightsome
• ignited
• highlighted
• shiny
• kindled
• spotlighted
• sunny
• floodlit
• moonlit
• sunlit
• sunshiny

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• darkened
• blackened
• dusk
• dark
• dusky
• unlit
• dimmed
• darkling
• lightless
• pitch-dark
• pitch-black
• darkish
• gloomy
• somber
• obscured
• shadowy
• pale
• tenebrous
• cloudy
• leaden
• murky
• gray
• sunless
• shadowlike
• lightproof

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

• burning
• blazing
• flaming
• aflame
• lit
• flickering
• ignited
• afire
• smoldering
• kindled
• burned
• fiery
• inflamed
• glowing
• charred
• ablaze
• combusting
• aglow
• conflagrant
• live
• flaring
• searing
• scorching
• scorched
• hot
• sizzling
• broiling
• seared
• roasting
• singed
• red-hot
• piping hot
• scalding
• incinerated

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• extinguished
• quenched
• dead
• choked
• smothered
• damped
• stamped (out)
• snuffed (out)
• doused
• suffocated

alight

2 of 2

verb

ə-ˈlīt 

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

• perch
• land
• light
• roost
• touch down
• settle
• crash-land
• belly-land

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• rise
• arise
• take off
• ascend
• climb
• plane
• fly
• wing
• soar
• float
• blast off
• glide
• hang
• hover

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

• descend
• dismount
• disembark
• light
• get down
• detrain
• deplane

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• embark
• get in
• mount
• board
• climb (aboard)
• entrain
• enplane

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of alight

Adjective

Tensions also boiled over in the neighboring town of Newtown Abbey, where protesters set two cars alight, according to video geolocated by CNN, and in Kilkeel where another car was set on fire. — Hira Humayun, CNN Money, 9 June 2026

Instead, its discreet entrance beckons you into a foyer alight with more than a dozen dangling glass lamps crafted by Barovier & Toso of Murano, and a sketch-like portrait of the actress Monica Vitti by the Franco-Chinese painter Yan Pei-Ming. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 June 2026

Verb

The All Blacks scored with 14 men to set alight a thrilling contest in which the lead see-sawed and France gave the hosts no breathing space. — ABC News, 4 July 2026

From the poetic paintings, sculptures, photographs, and videos in Rashid Johnson’s Guggenheim survey to Larry Bell’s colorful new glass cubes alighting in Madison Square Park, recent presentations gave us hope for the future. — Julie Belcove, Robb Report, 16 June 2026