lightning
1 of 3noun
light·ning ˈlīt-niŋ 
1
: the flashing of light produced by a discharge of atmospheric electricity
also : the discharge itself
2
: a sudden stroke of fortune
candidates … hoping for real lightning to strike 
Time
Timelightning
2 of 3adjective
: having or moving with or as if with the speed and suddenness of lightning
a lightning assault
lightning
3 of 3verb
lightninged; lightning
intransitive verb
: to discharge a flash of lightning
Synonyms
Adjective
- blistering
- breakneck
- breathless
- brisk
- dizzy
- fast
- fleet
- fleet-footed
- flying
- galloping
- hasty
- hot
- nippy
- quick
- rapid
- rapid-fire
- rattling
- snappy
- speedy
- splitting
- swift
- whirlwind
- zippy
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Adjective thoughts moving at lightning speed he made a lightning dash for the goal
Recent Examples on the Web Ronald Blum, ajc, 14 Sep. 2022 Federal research could provide answers within four years, lightning-fast by government research standards. Laura L. Davis, USA TODAY, 14 Sep. 2022 Failure can mean falling for lightning-fast trends, ignoring discomfort and buying anyway, and purchasing versions that don't actually meld with your style. Kerry Pieri, Harper's BAZAAR, 17 Aug. 2022 One year after the Taliban's lightning-fast takeover of Afghanistan and the group's grip on power is tighter now more than ever. CBS News, 14 Aug. 2022 In 2020, the first trials of gene editing for cancer patients were approved and cutting-edge Messenger RNA editing led to the lightning-fast development of a COVID vaccine. John Dilullo, Fortune, 2 Aug. 2022 But Lyonne steals the show as Merton, playing the lightning-fast turtle as a lascivious little old lady who didn’t get the memo that’s there’s no cursing in a kids’ movie. Thomas Floyd, Washington Post, 26 July 2022 Some of the best discounts are for Prime members only, though, so if you're not signed up for Prime yet, be sure to start a free trial to access these exclusive markdowns and lightning-fast shipping. Rachel Simon, EW.com, 13 July 2022 Our tester said the three-step process was incredibly simple and appreciated the lightning-fast drying time. Theresa Holland, PEOPLE.com, 12 July 2022 oregonlive, 3 Sep. 2022 The Florida woman became the 14th person killed by lightning this year in the US, according to the National Lightning Safety Council. Jay Croft And Amanda Watts, CNN, 19 Aug. 2022 So good luck to those who enter the sweepstakes, your odds of winning are probably somewhere in between getting struck by lightning and finding a penny on the sidewalk. Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 18 Aug. 2022 Of those, about 3,000 people are struck by lightning each year, and about 20 people die. Christine Fernando, USA TODAY, 11 Aug. 2022 Brooks Lambertson, a vice president for City National Bank, was in Washington, D.C., on business when he was hit by lightning Thursday night in Lafayette Park, the bank said in a statement Saturday. CBS News, 8 Aug. 2022 The National Outdoor Leadership School said a group was camping Tuesday evening in the Absaroka Mountains when a 22-year-old student was struck by lightning and went into cardiac arrest, according to a statement. Nick Stoico, BostonGlobe.com, 6 Aug. 2022 Brooks Lambertson, a vice president for City National Bank, was in the nation’s capital on business when he was struck by lightning Thursday night. James Rainey, Los Angeles Times, 6 Aug. 2022 Both fires were started by lightning near the Plumas National Forest. Annie Vainshtein, San Francisco Chronicle, 12 July 2021 See More
Noun
More than 5,500 minor league baseball players formed a union on Wednesday, completing a lightning-fast organization campaign that launched just 17 days earlier in an effort to boost annual salaries as low as $10,400. Ronald Blum, ajc, 14 Sep. 2022 Federal research could provide answers within four years, lightning-fast by government research standards. Laura L. Davis, USA TODAY, 14 Sep. 2022 Failure can mean falling for lightning-fast trends, ignoring discomfort and buying anyway, and purchasing versions that don't actually meld with your style. Kerry Pieri, Harper's BAZAAR, 17 Aug. 2022 One year after the Taliban's lightning-fast takeover of Afghanistan and the group's grip on power is tighter now more than ever. CBS News, 14 Aug. 2022 In 2020, the first trials of gene editing for cancer patients were approved and cutting-edge Messenger RNA editing led to the lightning-fast development of a COVID vaccine. John Dilullo, Fortune, 2 Aug. 2022 But Lyonne steals the show as Merton, playing the lightning-fast turtle as a lascivious little old lady who didn’t get the memo that’s there’s no cursing in a kids’ movie. Thomas Floyd, Washington Post, 26 July 2022 Some of the best discounts are for Prime members only, though, so if you're not signed up for Prime yet, be sure to start a free trial to access these exclusive markdowns and lightning-fast shipping. Rachel Simon, EW.com, 13 July 2022 Our tester said the three-step process was incredibly simple and appreciated the lightning-fast drying time. Theresa Holland, PEOPLE.com, 12 July 2022 Verb
The wildfire was started by lightning on August 17. oregonlive, 3 Sep. 2022 The Florida woman became the 14th person killed by lightning this year in the US, according to the National Lightning Safety Council. Jay Croft And Amanda Watts, CNN, 19 Aug. 2022 So good luck to those who enter the sweepstakes, your odds of winning are probably somewhere in between getting struck by lightning and finding a penny on the sidewalk. Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 18 Aug. 2022 Of those, about 3,000 people are struck by lightning each year, and about 20 people die. Christine Fernando, USA TODAY, 11 Aug. 2022 Brooks Lambertson, a vice president for City National Bank, was in Washington, D.C., on business when he was hit by lightning Thursday night in Lafayette Park, the bank said in a statement Saturday. CBS News, 8 Aug. 2022 The National Outdoor Leadership School said a group was camping Tuesday evening in the Absaroka Mountains when a 22-year-old student was struck by lightning and went into cardiac arrest, according to a statement. Nick Stoico, BostonGlobe.com, 6 Aug. 2022 Brooks Lambertson, a vice president for City National Bank, was in the nation’s capital on business when he was struck by lightning Thursday night. James Rainey, Los Angeles Times, 6 Aug. 2022 Both fires were started by lightning near the Plumas National Forest. Annie Vainshtein, San Francisco Chronicle, 12 July 2021 See More Word History
Etymology
Noun, Adjective, and Verb
Middle English, from gerund of lightenen to lighten
First Known Use
Noun
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Adjective
1576, in the meaning defined above
Verb
1861, in the meaning defined above
Phrases Containing lightning
Kids Definition
lightning
noun
light·ning ˈlīt-niŋ
: the flashing of light caused by the passing of electricity from one cloud to another or between a cloud and the earth
lightning
adjective
as in rapid
moving, proceeding, or acting with great speed he made a lightning dash for the goal Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- rapid
- fast
- galloping
- quick
- swift
- brisk
- flying
- whirlwind
- hot
- rattling
- blistering
- speedy
- splitting
- hasty
- breakneck
- fleet
- rapid-fire
- accelerated
- zippy
- at speed
- dizzy
- hurried
- breathless
- snappy
- fleet-footed
- nippy
- rushed
- rush
- strong
- breathtaking
- prompt
- expeditious
- quickened
- ready
- hastened
- vigorous
- ultrafast
- high-speed
- energetic
- strenuous
- ultrarapid
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- slow
- dragging
- deliberate
- crawling
- lingering
- sluggish
- pokey
- languid
- plodding
- laggard
- unhurried
- late
- dallying
- leisurely
- measured
- slowish
- poky
- poking
- tardy
- dillydallying
- dilatory
- dawdling
- ultraslow