light
gb/lˈaɪt/ us/lˈaɪt/
A1
English
~ 2100
Senses
0 senses
Noun
A1
entity
1
natural or artificial illumination
Something that makes it possible to see, such as from the sun, a lamp, or a fire.
Usage pattern:
[light] shines from [source]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'light' (illumination) with 'light' meaning 'not heavy'. Context determines meaning.
Synonyms
illumination (More formal or technical term for light as brightness.)
Antonyms
darkness (The complete absence of light.)
Collocations
bright light
|natural light
|artificial light
|turn on the light
|block the light
Themes
science
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The morning light streamed through the window.
- She turned on the light to read her book.
- Plants need light to grow.
- The city looked beautiful in the evening light.
Learner examples
- The sun gives us light.
- I turn on the light at night.
- There is no light in this room.
- Light comes from the lamp.
adjective
A1
property
2
weighing very little
Not heavy; easy to lift or carry.
Usage pattern:
a light [object]
Common mistake:
Some learners confuse 'light' meaning 'not heavy' with 'light' meaning 'pale in color'. Context is key.
Synonyms
lightweight (Emphasizes low weight, often in product descriptions.)
Antonyms
heavy (Having much weight or difficult to lift.)
Collocations
light bag
|light jacket
|light load
|light meal
Themes
daily life
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- This suitcase is surprisingly light.
- She wore a light coat for the spring weather.
- The box felt light in his hands.
Learner examples
- The bag is very light.
- This box is not heavy.
- My coat is light for summer.
adjective
A1
property
3
pale or not dark in color
Not dark in color; closer to white than black.
Usage pattern:
a light [color]
Common mistake:
Learners may say 'clear blue' instead of 'light blue'. In English, 'clear' refers to transparency, not paleness of color.
Synonyms
pale (Suggests low intensity of color; sometimes connotes weakness or softness.)
Antonyms
dark (Having a deep or strong color.)
Collocations
light blue
|light brown
|light green
Themes
daily life
|core_vocabulary
|arts_entertainment
Examples
- She painted her room light blue.
- I prefer light colors in summer clothing.
- His hair is a light brown.
Learner examples
- My shirt is light blue.
- She has light hair.
- The walls are light green.
Verb
A2
action
4
set fire to or make shine
To make something start to burn or shine.
Usage pattern:
to light [something]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'light' (verb) with 'turn on' for electrical devices; 'turn on' is more common for lights that are electric.
Synonyms
ignite (More formal; often used for combustion processes.)
Antonyms
extinguish (To put out a flame or stop burning.)
Collocations
light a candle
|light a fire
|light a cigarette
Themes
daily life
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- He lit the campfire with a match.
- Please light the candles on the cake.
- She lit a cigarette and took a deep breath.
Learner examples
- I will light the candle.
- He lights the fire at night.
- Please light the lamp.
Noun
A1
entity
5
lamp or other lighting device
A lamp or other thing that makes light.
Synonyms
lamp (Specifically refers to a lighting fixture, often indoors.)
Collocations
street light
|traffic light
|desk light
Themes
daily life
|daily_life
|housing
Examples
- The street lights came on at dusk.
- We need a brighter light over the kitchen table.
- The traffic light turned green.
Learner examples
- The street light is broken.
- I have a desk light for reading.
- The traffic light is red.
Grammar
Dictionary form
light
IPA
GB/lˈaɪt/
US/lˈaɪt/
Syllables & stress
light (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (light)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: light
- Comparative: lighter
- Superlative: lightest
Noun
- Base: light
- Plural: light, lights
Verb
- Base: light
- 3rd Person Singular: lights
- Present Participle: lighting
- Past: lighted, lit
- Past Participle: lighted
Word family
Expressions
bring to light
1/bɹˈɪŋ tə lˈaɪt/
idiom
make known something hidden before
To make something known that was secret or hidden before.
Examples
- The investigation brought to light new evidence.
- These documents have brought to light some shocking facts.
in the light of [something]
1/ˈɪn ðə lˈaɪt əv sˈʌmθɪŋ/
fixed phrase
formal
considering new information or events
Because of new facts or events, you think about something differently.
Examples
- In the light of recent events, we have changed our policy.
- The decision was made in the light of new evidence.
light up
1/lˈaɪt ˈʌp/
phrasal verb
become bright or happy looking
To become bright with light, or for someone's face to show excitement or happiness.
Examples
- The room lit up when she opened the curtains.
- Her face lit up when she saw him.
make light of [something]
1/mˈeɪk lˈaɪt əv sˈʌmθɪŋ/
idiom
treat as unimportant or trivial
To talk about something as if it is not serious, even if it is important.
Examples
- He made light of his injuries, even though they were serious.
- Don't make light of her hard work.
see the light
1/sˈi ðə lˈaɪt/
idiom
suddenly understand something clearly
To finally understand something after not understanding it before.
Examples
- After hours of explanation, he finally saw the light.
- She saw the light about healthy eating after her illness.