alights

present tense third-person singular of alight
1
as in perches
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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2
as in descends
to come down from something (as a vehicle) as she alighted from the train, she momentarily lost her footing

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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 alights As pleasure-seeking Venus alights within your 5th House of Self-Expression, fun projects sparkle, and your spirited humor invites others to join a playful challenge. Tarot.com, New York Daily News, 6 Mar. 2026 But before the action alights in the location of the latest dispute between adjacent property owners to catch the eye of directors Harrison Fishman and Dylan Redford (yes, grandson of Robert), the shot fills with the telltale red, white and blue of the American flag. Alison Herman, Variety, 13 Feb. 2026 Cash, an editor at Forever Magazine, has written a first novel that alights on plenty of hot topics without seeming limited by them. Jasmine Vojdani, Vulture, 12 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for alights
Verb
  • Head to Stoos, which perches on a plateau at the base of the Fronalpstock in central Switzerland.
    Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 24 May 2026
  • Live streams from entertainment events like the Grammys or Golden Globes aren’t typically perches for controversy, but, says Anthony McCartney, AP’s entertainment and lifestyles editor, celebrities will sometimes be asked to weigh in on recent headlines.
    Brian Steinberg, Variety, 16 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • Over time, as players bluff, bargain, and make increasingly dubious trades, trust starts to erode, more and more adverse selection happens — and the game descends into a kind of joyful chaos.
    Greg Rosalsky, NPR, 11 Aug. 2026
  • As Rhaenyra slowly descends into a pit of despair and desperation, Daemon and his armies run into some snags on their assault of Tumbleton thanks to the various tricks Lord Ormund has up his sleeves.
    Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • The movement feels fluid but also brutally impactful when Wolvie lands claws-first on an unsuspecting enemy with a thud.
    Jordan Moreau, Variety, 13 Aug. 2026
  • The engagement lands during the always lucrative Christmas-New Years holiday weeks, with producers no doubt hoping the popular Leavitt can bring in the kind of record-setting business that marked her stint as Roxie Hart in Chicago this past spring.
    Greg Evans, Deadline, 13 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Suffering from a broken rib and sinus infection, Remco Evenepoel hands his bidon to a child on the roadside and dismounts his bike.
    Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 2 July 2026
Verb
  • Former President Bill Clinton disembarks a jet at Islamabad International Airport in March 2000.
    Tiago Ventura, Time, 12 Aug. 2026
  • In the photos, obtained by Page Six, the Kansas City footballer disembarks from a private jet, followed closely by a large, fluffy white dog that appears to be a Samoyed.
    Kelli Bender, PEOPLE, 13 July 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Alights.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/alights. Accessed 21 Aug. 2026.

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