alight 1 of 2

alight

2 of 2

verb

1
as in to perch
to come to rest after descending from the air a flock of eight swans circled above, then alighted on the pond

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

2
as in to descend
to come down from something (as a vehicle) as she alighted from the train, she momentarily lost her footing

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 alight
Adjective
Then Samsung’s massive screens at the SAP Center (home of the hockey team San Jose Sharks) were alight with a video of phone components snapping into place and, finally, the back and front clicking into place with punchy haste, to emphasize one aspect of the phone: its thinness. David Phelan, Forbes, 22 Jan. 2025 Hussain’s comments section was alight with feedback from Hartwell, as well as season 2 stars Kyle Abrams and Shayne Jansen, who were briefly engaged on the show to Shaina Hurley and Natalie Lee, respectively. Jami Ganz, New York Daily News, 2 Jan. 2025
Verb
Those seeking crumbs of comfort might alight on a recent slew of changes behind the scenes. Jack Lang, The Athletic, 24 Jan. 2025 The economic press, meanwhile, alighted on a more cold-blooded explanation for Trump’s return. Matthew Karp, Harper's Magazine, 2 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for alight
Recent Examples of Synonyms for alight
Adjective
  • Ben Johnson has a ‘burning desire’ to be a head coach.
    Brad Biggs, Chicago Tribune, 4 Feb. 2025
  • For answers to more burning questions about Season 2, plus Season 3 clues (including which Season 1 character will be coming back), read Deadline’s interview with The Night Agent showrunner Shawn Ryan.
    Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 24 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • Have a pint at the Gravity Bar, perched atop the Guinness Storehouse with its breathtaking view of Dublin’s skyline, or visit the experimental brewery and taste Guinness’s latest concoctions.
    Joseph V Micallef, Forbes, 12 Mar. 2025
  • Take your time in the morning and settle into the property’s long, perched porches for some reading, writing or conversing with fellow guests.
    Kayleigh Ruller, Charlotte Observer, 12 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • What begins as a refuge quickly descends into a nightmare as the siblings uncover dark cult practices and confront an ancient evil lurking beneath the surface.
    Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 16 Mar. 2025
  • Last month, the press conference for the upcoming bout previously descended into a bit of chaos when Eubank Jr produced an egg from his pocket and hit his British rival across the cheek with his left hand – he was later fined £100,000 for this outburst.
    Caroline Frost, Deadline, 15 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • Use fire itself, not as a flaming wood chipper, but as a transmuting presence to which much of the landscape may already be adapted, a process that can massage the biota, not just blast it away.
    Stephen A. Pyne, The Hollywood Reporter, 18 Jan. 2025
  • Flo Milli is closing out 2024 with yet another flaming hot freestyle.
    Amber Corrine, VIBE.com, 10 Dec. 2024
Verb
  • That collaboration with Miguel opens on multiple charts in the United Kingdom this week, and even manages to bring the South Korean superstar to a tally he's never landed in before on his own.
    Hugh McIntyre, Forbes, 18 Mar. 2025
  • The case landed in federal court under the Major Crimes Act, a law that specifies federal authorities have jurisdiction over certain crimes - including assault - committed by Native Americans in Native territory Court filings don’t make clear what exactly sparked the assault.
    Michael Loria, USA TODAY, 18 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Considered one of the best bull riders of all time, Lane Frost was tragically killed in 1989 at the age of 25 after dismounting a bull at Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo.
    Marc Berman, Forbes, 11 Dec. 2024
  • The initial assaults over the weekend involved dismounted infantry walking in neat lines across snowy fields without much apparent support from artillery or aircraft.
    David Axe, Forbes, 18 Dec. 2024
Adjective
  • Very quickly, Nate learns to use his affliction to his advantage via such methods as grabbing a blazing hot frying pan and pummeling his stunned opponent with it during a kitchen fight.
    Frank Scheck, The Hollywood Reporter, 8 Mar. 2025
  • Our players have to dangle from the helicopter and drop their winnings into a blazing ring of fire to double their earnings.
    Tom Smyth, Vulture, 6 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • That failure did not light a fire so much as keep the pilot light on.
    Troy Renck, The Denver Post, 13 Mar. 2025
  • The location reopened in May of last year: ATMs are walled in by vertical stripes of handmade blue subway tile and lit by bulbous, ’60s-style lights.
    Adriane Quinlan, Curbed, 12 Mar. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Alight.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/alight. Accessed 24 Mar. 2025.

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