Word forms: 3rd person singular presenttense alights, present participle alighting, past tense, past participle alighted
1. adjective [verb-link ADJECTIVE]
If something is alight, it is burning.
Several buildings were set alight.
The gas fire was still alight.
2. adjective [verb-link ADJECTIVE]
If someone's eyes are alight or if their face is alight, the expression in their eyes or on their face shows that they are feeling a strong emotion such as excitement or happiness.
[literary]
She paused and turned, her face alight with happiness. [+ with]
3. verb
If a bird or insect alights somewhere, it lands there.
[literary]
A thrush alighted on a branch of the pine tree. [VERB preposition/adverb]
Synonyms: land, light, settle, come down More Synonyms of alight
4. verb
When you alight from a train, bus, or other vehicle, you get out of it after a journey.
[formal]
Two men alighted from the vehicle. [VERB preposition/adverb]
[Also VERB]
Synonyms: get off, descend, get down, disembark More Synonyms of alight
5. verb
If someone alightson something, they suddenly see it, think of it, or take an interest in it.
[literary]
He would then suddenly alight on the tune he really wanted to play. [Von/upon n]
More Synonyms of alight
alight in British English1
(əˈlaɪt)
verbWord forms: alights, alighting, alighted or alit(intransitive)
1. (usually foll by from)
to step out (of) or get down (from)
to alight from a taxi
2.
to come to rest; settle; land
a thrush alighted on the wall
Word origin
Old English ālīhtan, from a-2 + līhtan to make less heavy, from līhtlight2
alight in British English2
(əˈlaɪt)
adjective, adverb(postpositive)
1.
burning; on fire
2.
illuminated; lit up
Word origin
Old English ālīht lit up, from ālīhtan to light up; see light1
alight in American English1
(əˈlaɪt)
verb intransitiveWord forms: aˈlighted or aˈlit, aˈlighting
1.
to get down or off; dismount
2.
to come down after flight; descend and settle
3. Rare
to come (on or upon) accidentally
Word origin
ME alighten < OE ālīhtan < a-, out, off + līhtan, to dismount, render light < liht: see light2 (to dismount)
alight in American English2
(əˈlaɪt)
adjective
1.
lighted; burning
2.
lighted up
Word origin
ME aliht, pp. of alihten < OE alihtan, to light up
Examples of 'alight' in a sentence
alight
They stole watches and cash from a safe and the pub was set alight as they fled.
The Sun (2016)
She turned to find her blouse had been set alight and had to frantically pat out the flames.
The Sun (2016)
Photographs also included the burnt patch of stubble in the field that had been set alight by the firing.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Residents said that fighters had fled, setting it alight as they did so.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
If anyone is going to set this show alight now, it is him.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Put some fireworks into your plantings this week to set your plot alight with flaming flowers, foliage and fruits as winter approaches.
The Sun (2016)
As they poured themselves glasses of alcohol-free champagne, they covered the pile in petrol and set it alight.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
An olive grove is alight, fire spreading in the dry heat, and the hillside is consumed by flames.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
The songs failed to set the world alight, but they impressed Fleetwood enough for him to invite them to join the band.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
But family folk groups do not normally set the charts alight.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
The house was also set alight but the fire was extinguished.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Vehicles were set alight and shops looted.
The Sun (2014)
This would be set alight and the bird served with much pomp and ceremony.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Tourists who cut short their holidays said they had seen buildings alight and crowds of angry demonstrators in the streets.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
But why set the building alight?
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
More recently, he and some pals accidentally set his house alight after a fireworkprank.
The Sun (2011)
But the continent has come alight with Chinese enterprise.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Within hours, the speech had set social media alight.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
At one point, they set alight a huge bonfire in the middle of the square.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
The mule was on holiday, but the fire was alight.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Not quickly enough, if his recent experience of setting his face alight while cooking pasta is anything to go by.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Her gaze alighted on something.
Carlos Acosta No Way Home: A Cuban Dancer's Tale (2007)
At its peak a further six buses were alight at the Westbourne Park bus garage.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Anne flew to the door, face alight, eyes glowing.
LM Montgomery Anne of Green Gables (1872)
When firefighters arrived at the scene just after 1am, they found a building and three buses alight.
The Sun (2014)
When the Indian gentleman looked at her as she entered, he saw that her face was all alight.
Frances Hodgson Burnett A Little Princess (1905)
A bird had alighted in the sand with a flash of blue and white feather, to peck at something thrown from the train.
Aldiss, Brian Somewhere East of Life (1994)
I, though, remain on the train and alight one stop northwest.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
In other languages
alight
British English: alight ADJECTIVE
If something is alight, it is burning.
The fire was still alight.
American English: alight
Brazilian Portuguese: em chamas
Chinese: 燃烧着的
European Spanish: ardiendo
French: en feu
German: brennend
Italian: acceso
Japanese: 燃えて
Korean: 불붙은
European Portuguese: em chamas
Latin American Spanish: ardiendo
British English: alight VERB
If a bird or insect alights somewhere, it lands there.
A thrush alighted on a branch of the pine tree.
American English: alight
Brazilian Portuguese: pousar
Chinese: 降落
European Spanish: posarse
French: se poser
German: sich niederlassen
Italian: posarsi
Japanese: 舞い降りる
Korean: 날아가 앉다
European Portuguese: pousar
Latin American Spanish: posarse
Chinese translation of 'alight'
alight
(əˈlaɪt)
adj
[fire]燃着(著)的 (ránzhe de)
[eyes, face]闪(閃)耀的 (shǎnyào de)
vi
(frm)[bird]飞(飛)落 (fēiluò)
[passenger]下来(來) (xiàlái)
to set sth alight点(點)着(著)某物 (diǎnzháo mǒuwù)
1 (verb)
Definition
to step out of a vehicle or off a horse
Two men alighted from the vehicle.
Synonyms
get off
We got off at the next stop.
descend
The bus stopped and three people descended.
get down
The two ladies got down from the carriage.
disembark
Six passengers had already disembarked.
dismount
She dismounted and began to lead her horse.
2 (verb)
Definition
to land
A thrush alighted on a branch of the pine tree.
Synonyms
land
The jet landed after a flight of just under three hours.
light
settle
The birds settled less than two hundred paces away.
come down
descend
Disaster struck as the plane descended through the mist.
perch
A blackbird perched on the parapet outside the window.
touch down
We finally touched down in Houston two hours late.
come to rest
Opposites
rise
,
scale
,
mount
,
climb
,
go up
,
take off
,
soar
,
move up
,
ascend
,
lift off
,
fly up
,
float up
1 (adjective)
Definition
illuminated
Her face was alight with happiness.
Synonyms
lit up
bright
Newborns hate bright lights and loud noises.
brilliant
The event was held in brilliant sunshine.
shining
shining brass buttons
illuminated
fiery
fiery autumn foliage
2 (adjective)
Definition
on fire
The rioters set several buildings alight.
Synonyms
on fire
The captain radioed that the ship was on fire.
ignited
set ablaze
lit
burning
He was last seen alive as he ran into his burning house.
aflame
Hundreds of tightly rolled newspapers were set aflame.
blazing
a blazing fire
flaming
A group followed carrying flaming torches.
flaring
Additional synonyms
in the sense of aflame
Definition
in flames
Hundreds of tightly rolled newspapers were set aflame.