as in worlds
a huge physical or conceptual distance
my sister and I are close in age, but personality-wise, there are light-years between us
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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 light-years
When the black hole feeds on gas, the object unleashes particles in the form of wind or jets that move at nearly the speed of light, traveling up to thousands of light-years into space.
—
Jacopo Prisco, CNN Money, 16 June 2026
This matter is blasted out at speeds approaching the speed of light as powerful jets that stretch out for thousands of light-years.
—Robert Lea, Space.com, 16 June 2026
Just as astronomers use telescopes to examine celestial objects light-years away, novelists can invoke imagined civilizations to reveal truths closer to home, in part by forcing their characters into contact with alien environments and worldviews.
—Alexandra Oliva, The Atlantic, 12 June 2026
Vega is 26 light-years away from Earth, with one light-year equaling nearly six trillion miles.
—Mike Lynch, Twin Cities, 7 June 2026
The star system in question, HD 81809, lies in the constellation Hydra and is roughly 90 to 101 light-years from Earth.
—Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 6 June 2026
Jacopo Prisco, CNN Money, 16 June 2026
This matter is blasted out at speeds approaching the speed of light as powerful jets that stretch out for thousands of light-years.
—Robert Lea, Space.com, 16 June 2026
Just as astronomers use telescopes to examine celestial objects light-years away, novelists can invoke imagined civilizations to reveal truths closer to home, in part by forcing their characters into contact with alien environments and worldviews.
—Alexandra Oliva, The Atlantic, 12 June 2026
Vega is 26 light-years away from Earth, with one light-year equaling nearly six trillion miles.
—Mike Lynch, Twin Cities, 7 June 2026
The star system in question, HD 81809, lies in the constellation Hydra and is roughly 90 to 101 light-years from Earth.
—Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 6 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for light-years
Noun
-
On Earth, clouds are made of water, and on Jupiter, they're made of ammonia, while much hotter worlds can have clouds of silicates.—
Kierra Frazier,
CBS News,
19 June 2026
-
More elevated than your typical neighborhood joint, yet more approachable than fine dining, Executive Chef Michael Lombardi’s SRV has a foot in both worlds.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
18 June 2026
Noun
-
This team decided to test the gravitational influence of dark matter at the hearts of galaxies, environments dominated by supermassive black holes which can have masses millions or even billions of times that of the sun.—
Robert Lea,
Space.com,
20 June 2026
-
The James Webb Space Telescope has found nearby brown dwarfs masquerading as far-distant galaxies.—
Phil Plait,
Scientific American,
19 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Light-years.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/light-years. Accessed 21 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
