slight
gb/slˈaɪt/ us/slˈaɪt/
B1
English
~ 2300
Senses
0 senses
adjective
B1
property
1
Small in degree or importance
Small in amount or importance; not big or serious.
Usage pattern:
a slight [difference/change/problem]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'slight' with 'light' when talking about weight. 'Slight' refers to degree or importance, not heaviness.
Synonyms
minor (Often used for problems or issues that are not serious.)
|
small (General term for limited size or amount; less formal.)
Antonyms
major (Refers to something large in degree or importance.)
|
significant (Indicates something important or meaningful in effect.)
Collocations
slight chance
|slight difference
|slight increase
|slight problem
|slight delay
Themes
description
|measurement
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
|daily_life
Examples
- There was a slight delay in the train's arrival.
- She noticed a slight change in his tone.
- The patient has a slight fever.
- We made only slight adjustments to the plan.
- He gave me a slight nod of approval.
Learner examples
- I have a slight headache today.
- There is a slight problem with my phone.
- She made a slight mistake in the test.
- The soup needs a slight change in taste.
- He felt a slight pain in his knee.
Verb
B2
action
2
Treat without respect or ignore
To make someone feel unimportant by ignoring them or not showing respect.
Usage pattern:
to slight [someone]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'slight' (verb) with 'slightly' (adverb). The verb is about disrespect, not degree.
Synonyms
insult (Directly shows disrespect, often verbally.)
|
snub (To ignore someone publicly or socially.)
Antonyms
respect (To treat someone with honor and consideration.)
|
praise (To express approval or admiration toward someone.)
Collocations
feel slighted
|intentionally slight
|slight someone
Themes
emotions
|relationships
|communication
Examples
- She felt slighted when they didn’t invite her to the meeting.
- He didn’t mean to slight his colleague by forgetting her name.
- They slighted the team's efforts by not mentioning them in the report.
Learner examples
- I felt slighted when he walked past me without saying hello.
- She did not invite him, and he felt slighted.
- He was slighted by their rude comment.
adjective
B2
property
3
Thin and not strong physically
Thin and not very strong in body.
Usage pattern:
a slight [man/woman/build/frame]
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse 'slight' here with 'light' when describing weight. 'Slight' refers to body build, not the weight of objects.
Synonyms
slender (Thin in an attractive way; more positive tone.)
|
frail (Physically weak; can imply poor health.)
Antonyms
sturdy (Physically strong and solidly built.)
|
muscular (Having well-developed muscles.)
Collocations
slight build
|slight frame
Themes
appearance
|physical traits
|body
|health
Examples
- He was of slight build but surprisingly fast.
- Her slight frame made it hard to carry heavy boxes.
- Despite his slight appearance, he was very fit.
Learner examples
- He is a man with a slight build.
- She has a slight body but is strong.
- The boy is slight and cannot lift heavy things.
Grammar
Dictionary form
slight
IPA
GB/slˈaɪt/
US/slˈaɪt/
Syllables & stress
slight (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (slight)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: slight
- Comparative: slighter
- Superlative: slightest
Verb
- Base: slight
- 3rd Person Singular: slights
- Present Participle: slighting
- Past: slighted
Word family
Forms
slights
verb
slighting
verb
slighted
verb
slighter
adjective
slightest
adjective
Core family
slightly
adverb A2
Advanced or less common
slightness
noun
Expressions
feel slighted
1/fˈil slˈaɪtɪd/
fixed phrase
Feel disrespected or ignored
To feel hurt because someone did not show you respect or attention.
Examples
- He felt slighted when they didn’t thank him for his help.
- Many employees felt slighted by the lack of recognition.
take it as a slight
1/tˈeɪk ˈɪt ˈæz ə slˈaɪt/
fixed phrase
Interpret something as an insult
To think that what someone did or said was an insult to you.
Examples
- Please don’t take it as a slight; I simply forgot to call you.
- She took his absence at the party as a slight.