Meanings
alight1
present singular third person alights · participle present alighting · participle past alighted · past alighted · participle past alit · past alit
- intransitiveOften followed by from or off: to get off an animal which one has been riding; to dismount; to descend or exit from a vehicle; hence, to complete one's journey; to stop.
He alighted from his horse.
5 more examples
Passengers are alighting from the carriage.
Madam, there is a-lighted at your gate / A yong Venetian, one that comes before / To ſignifie th'approaching of his Lord, / From whom he bringeth ſenſible regreets; […]
c. 1596–1598 (date written), W[illiam] Shakespeare, The Excellent History of the Merchant of Venice. […] (First Quarto), [London]: […] J[ames] Roberts [for Thomas Heyes], published 1600, →OCLC, [Act II, scene ix]He that neuer alights off a rich Farmer or country Gentleman, till he haue drawne money from him, is called The Snaffle.
1609, Thomas Dekker, “Lanthorne and Candle-light. Or, The Bell-man’s Second Nights-walke. […] The Second Edition, […]: Rancke-riders, the Manner of Cozening Inn-keepers, Post-maisters and Hackny-men”, in Alexander B[alloch] Grosart, editor, The Non-dramatic Works of Thomas Dekker. […] (The Huth Library), volume III, London; Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire: […] [Hazell, Watson, & Viney] for private circulation only, published 1885, →OCLC, page 251The Horſemen all alighted, and the footmen taking Don Quixote and Sancho forcibly in their Armes, they ſet them in the Court, […]
1620, [Miguel de Cervantes], “Of the Nevvest and Strangest Aduenture, that in All the Course of This History Befell Don Quixote”, in Thomas Shelton, transl., The Second Part of the History of the Valorous and Witty Knight-errant, Don Quixote of the Mancha. […], London: […] [Eliot’s Court Press] for Edward Blount, →OCLC, page 461The Coach ſet us down by the Side of a large Common, about five Miles diſtant from our Houſe; and we alighted, and walked a little Way, chuſing not to have the Coach come nearer, that we might be taken as little Notice of as poſſible; […]
1742, [Samuel Richardson], “Letter XXXVII”, in Pamela: Or, Virtue Rewarded. […], volume III, London: […] S[amuel] Richardson; and sold by C[harles] Rivington, […]; and J. Osborn, […], →OCLC, page 351Synonyms: alighten, light, disembark, debark, get off, get out, unlight
- alsofigurativelyintransitiveOften followed by at, on, or upon: of something aloft: to descend and settle; to land, to lodge, to rest.
Snow alights on a roof.
5 more examples
A flying bird alights upon a tree.
His fearefull freends vveare out the vvofull night, / Ne dare to vveepe, nor ſeeme to vnderſtand / The heauie hap, vvhich on them is alight, / Affraid, leaſt to themſelues the like miſhappen might.
1590, Edmund Spenser, “Book I, Canto III”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, →OCLC, stanza 20, page 38Then from his loftie ſtand on that high Tree / Down he alights among the ſportful Herd / Of thoſe fourfooted kindes, himſelf now one, […]
1667, John Milton, “Book IV”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC, lines 395–397The wounded Bird, e'er yet ſhe breath'd her laſt, / With flagging Wings alighted on the Maſt, / A Moment hung, and ſpread her Pinions there, / Then ſudden dropt, and left her Life in Air.
1720, Homer, “Book XXIII”, in Alexander Pope, transl., The Iliad of Homer, volume VI, London: […] W[illiam] Bowyer, for Bernard Lintott […], →OCLC, pages 108–109, lines 1038–1041I saw the expecting raven fly, / Who scarce would wait till both should die, / Ere his repast begun; / He flew, and perch'd, then flew once more, / And each time nearer than before; / I saw his wing through twilight flit, / And once so near me he alit / I could have smote, but lack'd the strength; […]
1819, Lord Byron, Mazeppa, a Poem, London: John Murray, […], →OCLC, stanza XVIII, pages 41–42, lines 770–777 - archaicintransitiveOften followed by on or upon: of a blow, something thrown, etc.: to land heavily.
But ſtorms of Stones, from the proud Temple's height, / Pour down, and on our batter'd Helms alight.
1697, Virgil, “The Second Book of the Æneis”, in John Dryden, transl., The Works of Virgil: Containing His Pastorals, Georgics, and Æneis. […], London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC, page 251, lines 555–556 - figurativelyintransitiveOften followed by on or upon: to find by accident; to chance upon, to come upon.
- intransitiveobsoleteTo arrive.
Madam, heres a pretty hanſome ſtripling, nevv alight, / Enquires for Don Antonio.
1626 February 19 (date licensed; Gregorian calendar), Iames Shirley [i.e., James Shirley], The Maides Revenge. A Tragedy. […], London: […] T[homas] C[otes] for William Cooke, […], published 1639, →OCLC, Act II
alight2
present singular third person alights · participle present alighting · participle past alit · past alit · participle past alighted · past alighted · first person past singular alighted · archaic present second person singular alightest · past second person singular alighted · archaic past second person singular alightedst · present singular third person alights · archaic present singular third person alighteth · past singular third person alighted · past plural alighted · past subjunctive alighted · participle present alighting
- alsoarchaicfigurativelytransitiveTo set light to (something); to set (something) on fire; to ignite, to light.
The officer hauing by this time alighted his lampe, entred into the roome to ſee him, vvhom he accounted to be dead, […]
1612, [Miguel de Cervantes], “VVherein are Rehearsed the Innumerable Misfortunes vvhich Don-Quixote and His Good Squire Sancho Suffered in the Inne, vvhich He to His Harme Thought to be a Castle”, in Thomas Shelton, transl., The History of the Valorous and Wittie Knight-errant Don-Quixote of the Mancha. […], London: […] William Stansby, for Ed[ward] Blount and W. Barret, →OCLC, part 3, page 133
- alsoarchaicfigurativelynot comparabletransitiveBurning, lit, on fire.
The sticks were damp and wouldn’t catch alight.
3 more examples
The burning embers and the dry wind quickly set the whole neighbourhood alight.
If a train enters the forward section before its description has been transmitted, a "not described" lamp is illuminated on the transmitter, an alarm buzzer is sounded, and the lamp remains alight until a description has been transmitted.
1955 March, “Train Describers at Euston”, in Railway Magazine, page 170With a heavy load of 650 tons for Arras and Lille we started very quietly, with about a third of a glass of water, and the fire barely alight. This frightened me, but I had reckoned without the 4-6-4's American mechanical stoker.
1961 February, Balmore [pseudonym], “Driving and Firing Modern French Steam Locomotives – Part One”, in Trains Illustrated, London: Ian Allan Publishing, →ISSN, →OCLC, page 110 - alsoarchaicfigurativelynot comparabletransitiveOften followed by with: shining with light; luminous, radiant; also, brightly coloured; vivid.
Synonyms: aglow, beamful, beamsome, beamy, brilliant, effulgent, glowing, illuminating · Antonyms: adumbral, blear, caliginous, cimmerian, crepuscular, dark, darksome, darkling
- alsoarchaicfigurativelynot comparabletransitiveOf an electrical light source: switched on and emitting light.
Synonyms: aglow, beamful, beamsome, beamy, brilliant, effulgent, glowing, illuminating · Antonyms: adumbral, blear, caliginous, cimmerian, crepuscular, dark, darksome, darkling
- alsoarchaicfigurativelynot comparabletransitiveAglow with activity or emotion.
Her face was alight with happiness.
1 more example
But such a fierce, little, rapid, sparkling, energetic, she-devil I never beheld. She was alight and flaming, all the time.
1846, Charles Dickens, “Lyons, the Rhone, and the Goblin of Avignon”, in Pictures from Italy, London: […] Bradbury & Evans, […], →OCLC, page 24
- alsoarchaicfigurativelynot comparabletransitiveChiefly in set alight: in flames, on fire; aflame.
Each chapel had its saintly shrine, hung around with offerings; its picture above the altar, although closely veiled, if by any painter of renown; and its hallowed tapers, burning continually, to set alight the devotion of the worshippers.
1860, Nathaniel Hawthorne, “The Burial Chant”, in The Marble Faun: Or, The Romance of Monte Beni. […], volume I, Boston, Mass.: Ticknor and Fields, →OCLC, page 227
Synonyms & antonyms
verbTo make less heavy; to lighten; to alleviate, to relieve.
verbOften followed by from or off: to get off an animal which one has been riding; to dismount; to descend or exit from a vehicle; hence, to complete one's journey; to stop.
verbTo cast light on (something); to illuminate, to light up.
adjectiveOften followed by with: shining with light; luminous, radiant; also, brightly coloured; vivid.
adjectiveOf an electrical light source: switched on and emitting light.
More synonyms by meaning
Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.
Origin
alight · verb
- Old Englishġelīhtan“to descend; to come down, dismount; to make easy or light, alleviate, lighten, relieve”
- Proto-Indo-European*h₁lengʷʰ-“not heavy, light”
- Old Englishālīhtan“to alight, dismount”
- Middle Englishalighten“to descend from a place: to dismount, get off; to descend to a place: to arrive or stop (at a place); to land; to drop; to attack; of lightning: to strike; to leap on to, mount; to descend in rank; to cause (someone) to lose rank; to come forth, spring from; to alleviate, relieve; (Christianity) of Jesus: to come down to earth from heaven, become incarnate; to descend (to hell); of the Holy Spirit, angels, miracles, etc.: to descend (from heaven); to descend (upon someone); to appear in a place”
- Englishalight
From Middle English alighten (“to descend from a place: to dismount, get off; to descend to a place: to arrive or stop (at a place); to land; to drop; to attack; of lightning: to strike; to leap on to, mount; to descend in rank; to cause (someone) to lose rank; to come forth, spring from; to alleviate, relieve; (Christianity) of Jesus: to come down to earth from heaven, become incarnate; to descend (to hell); of the Holy Spirit, angels, miracles, etc.: to descend (from heaven); to descend (upon someone); to appear in a place”) [and other forms], from a merger of: * Old English ālīhtan (“to alight, dismount”), from ā- (prefix meaning ‘away, from, off, out’) + līhtan, līehtan (“to descend, alight, light; to make easy or light, alleviate, lighten, relieve”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *h₁lengʷʰ- (“not heavy, light”); and * Old English ġelīhtan (“to descend; to come down, dismount; to make easy or light, alleviate, lighten, relieve”), from ġe- (intensifying prefix, attached to verbs to indicate completeness or perfection) + līhtan, līehtan (see above). The English word is analyzable as a- (prefix meaning ‘away, from, off, out’) + light (“to ease, lighten; to take off; to unload; to dismount; (archaic) to come down, land; to dismount”). Cognates * Middle Low German erlichten (“to lighten”) * Old High German gilīhten (“to make less heavy, lighten”) (Middle High German gelīhten); Old High German irlīhten (“to alleviate”) (Middle High German erlīhten, modern German erleichten)
More words from Middle English, Old English, Proto-Indo-European
Full word history & related roots →alight · verb, adjective, adverb
- Old Englishālīhtan
- Old Englishālīht
- Middle Englishalight
- Proto-Indo-European*lewk-
- Proto-Germanic*inliuhtijaną“to enlighten, illumine”
- Old Englishonlīhtan
- Middle Englishonlighten“to cause (something) to shine; to clarify; (figuratively) to enlighten spiritually”
- Proto-Indo-European*lewk-“to see; to shine; bright”
- Old Englishālīhtan
- Middle Englishalighten“to kindle, light, set on fire; to begin burning; to become bright, shine; to arouse, rouse, stir; (figuratively) to enlighten spiritually, illuminate”
- Englishalight
The verb is probably derived partly: * from Middle English alighten (“to kindle, light, set on fire; to begin burning; to become bright, shine; to arouse, rouse, stir; (figuratively) to enlighten spiritually, illuminate”) [and other forms], from Old English ālīhtan, ālȳhtan (“to light up; enlighten”) (perhaps modelled after Latin illūmināre, the present active infinitive of illūminō (“to brighten, illuminate, light up”)), from ā- (prefix meaning ‘away, from, off, out’) + līhtan, līehtan (“to glow, to shine; to illuminate, to light”) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *lewk- (“to see; to shine; bright”)); and * from Middle English onlighten (“to cause (something) to shine; to clarify; (figuratively) to enlighten spiritually”) [and other forms], from Old English onlīhtan, a variant of inlīhtan (“to give light to, brighten, illuminate; to cause to shine; to shine; (figuratively) to give clear sight; to clear a mental fog, enlighten”), from Proto-Germanic *inliuhtijaną (“to enlighten, illumine”), from *in (“in; into”) + *liuhtijaną (“to give light, shine”) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *lewk-; see above); and * from later uses of alight (adjective). The English word is analysable as a- (prefix meaning ‘away, from, off, out’) + light (“to start (a fire); to burn, set fire to; to become ignited, take fire; to provide light, illuminate; to show the way by means of a light”). The adjective and adverb are derived from Late Middle English alight (adjective) [and other forms], from Old English ālīht, ālȳht, a past participle form of Old English ālīhtan, ālȳhtan (verb) (see above); but have also been subsequently interpreted as a- (prefix meaning ‘at; in; on’, used to show a condition, manner, or state) + light (“not dark or obscure, bright, clear; highly luminous”). Cognates * German erleuchten (“to light up, illuminate”)
More words from Middle English, Old English, Proto-Indo-European
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Bulgarian сли́зам, сля́за
- сли́зам (slízam)to get off an animal which one has been riding; to descend or exit from a vehicle
- сля́за (sljáza)to get off an animal which one has been riding; to descend or exit from a vehicle
- су́рвам се (súrvam se)of a blow, something thrown, etc.: to land heavily
- су́рна се (súrna se)of a blow, something thrown, etc.: to land heavily
- сгромоля́свам се (sgromoljásvam se)of a blow, something thrown, etc.: to land heavily
- сгромоля́сам се (sgromoljásam se)of a blow, something thrown, etc.: to land heavily
- попа́дам на (popádam na)to find by accident — see also chance upon, come upon
- попа́дна на (popádna na)to find by accident — see also chance upon, come upon
- ка́цам (kácam)of something aloft: to descend and settle — see also land, lodge, rest, stop
- ка́цна (kácna)of something aloft: to descend and settle — see also land, lodge, rest, stop
- запа́лен (zapálen)burning, lit, on fire — see also burning, on fire
- пла́мнал (plámnal)burning, lit, on fire — see also burning, on fire
- пламтя́щ (plamtjášt)burning, lit, on fire — see also burning, on fire
- горя́щ (gorjášt)burning, lit, on fire — see also burning, on fire
- озаре́н (ozarén)aglow with activity or emotion
- лъчеза́рен (lăčezáren)aglow with activity or emotion
- сия́ещ (sijáešt)aglow with activity or emotion
- сия́ен (sijáen)aglow with activity or emotion
Catalan baixar
- baixarto get off an animal which one has been riding; to descend or exit from a vehicle
Czech sesednout, vysednout
- sesednoutto get off an animal which one has been riding; to descend or exit from a vehicle
- vysednoutto get off an animal which one has been riding; to descend or exit from a vehicle
- vystoupitto get off an animal which one has been riding; to descend or exit from a vehicle
- rozzářenýof an electrical light source: switched on and emitting light
- rozsvícenýof an electrical light source: switched on and emitting light
- rozzářenýaglow with activity or emotion
- planoucíaglow with activity or emotion
Dutch afstappen, uitstappen
- afstappento get off an animal which one has been riding; to descend or exit from a vehicle
- uitstappento get off an animal which one has been riding; to descend or exit from a vehicle
Esperanto deĉevaliĝi, elŝipiĝi
- deĉevaliĝito get off an animal which one has been riding; to descend or exit from a vehicle
- elŝipiĝito get off an animal which one has been riding; to descend or exit from a vehicle
Estonian maha tulema, väljuma
- maha tulemato get off an animal which one has been riding; to descend or exit from a vehicle
- väljumato get off an animal which one has been riding; to descend or exit from a vehicle
Finnish laskeutua, törmätä
- laskeutuato get off an animal which one has been riding; to descend or exit from a vehicle
- törmätäto find by accident — see also chance upon, come upon
- asettuaof something aloft: to descend and settle — see also land, lodge, rest, stop
- tulessaburning, lit, on fire — see also burning, on fire
- tuleenburning, lit, on fire — see also burning, on fire
- päälläof an electrical light source: switched on and emitting light
- päälleof an electrical light source: switched on and emitting light
German aussteigen, in Flammen
- aussteigento get off an animal which one has been riding; to descend or exit from a vehicle
- in Flammenburning, lit, on fire — see also burning, on fire
Greek κατεβαίνω
- κατεβαίνω (katevaíno)to get off an animal which one has been riding; to descend or exit from a vehicle
Hungarian kiszáll, leszáll
- kiszállto get off an animal which one has been riding; to descend or exit from a vehicle
- leszállto get off an animal which one has been riding; to descend or exit from a vehicle
- akadto find by accident — see also chance upon, come upon
- bukkanto find by accident — see also chance upon, come upon
- rábukkanto find by accident — see also chance upon, come upon
- leszállof something aloft: to descend and settle — see also land, lodge, rest, stop
- rászállof something aloft: to descend and settle — see also land, lodge, rest, stop
Irish tuirling, tuirling
- tuirlingto get off an animal which one has been riding; to descend or exit from a vehicle
- tuirlingof something aloft: to descend and settle — see also land, lodge, rest, stop
- le thineburning, lit, on fire — see also burning, on fire
Japanese 降車, 降りる
- 降車 (kōsha)to get off an animal which one has been riding; to descend or exit from a vehicle
- 降りる (oriru)to get off an animal which one has been riding; to descend or exit from a vehicle
Māori makere, tau
- makereto get off an animal which one has been riding; to descend or exit from a vehicle
- tauto get off an animal which one has been riding; to descend or exit from a vehicle
- whakaeketo get off an animal which one has been riding; to descend or exit from a vehicle
- tauof something aloft: to descend and settle — see also land, lodge, rest, stop
Persian روشن
- روشن (rowšan)burning, lit, on fire — see also burning, on fire
Polish płonący, płonący
- płonącyburning, lit, on fire — see also burning, on fire
- płonącyaglow with activity or emotion
Portuguese descer, desembarcar
- descerto get off an animal which one has been riding; to descend or exit from a vehicle
- desembarcarto get off an animal which one has been riding; to descend or exit from a vehicle
- pousarof something aloft: to descend and settle — see also land, lodge, rest, stop
- acesoburning, lit, on fire — see also burning, on fire
- ardenteaglow with activity or emotion
Romanian coborî, aprins
- coborîto get off an animal which one has been riding; to descend or exit from a vehicle
- aprinsburning, lit, on fire — see also burning, on fire
Russian спе́шиваться, спе́шиться
- спе́шиваться (spéšivatʹsja)to get off an animal which one has been riding; to descend or exit from a vehicle
- спе́шиться (spéšitʹsja)to get off an animal which one has been riding; to descend or exit from a vehicle
- выходи́ть (vyxodítʹ)to get off an animal which one has been riding; to descend or exit from a vehicle
- вы́йти (výjti)to get off an animal which one has been riding; to descend or exit from a vehicle
- приземля́ться (prizemljátʹsja)of something aloft: to descend and settle — see also land, lodge, rest, stop
- приземли́ться (prizemlítʹsja)of something aloft: to descend and settle — see also land, lodge, rest, stop
- светя́щийся (svetjáščijsja)burning, lit, on fire — see also burning, on fire
- сия́ющий (sijájuščij)aglow with activity or emotion
Spanish apearse, bajarse
- apearseto get off an animal which one has been riding; to descend or exit from a vehicle
- bajarseto get off an animal which one has been riding; to descend or exit from a vehicle
- aterrizarof something aloft: to descend and settle — see also land, lodge, rest, stop
- posarseof something aloft: to descend and settle — see also land, lodge, rest, stop
Swedish stiga av, slå ner sig
- stiga avto get off an animal which one has been riding; to descend or exit from a vehicle
- slå ner sigof something aloft: to descend and settle — see also land, lodge, rest, stop
Ukrainian спі́шуватися, спі́шитися
- спі́шуватися (spíšuvatysja)to get off an animal which one has been riding; to descend or exit from a vehicle
- спі́шитися (spíšytysja)to get off an animal which one has been riding; to descend or exit from a vehicle
- схо́дити (sxódyty)to get off an animal which one has been riding; to descend or exit from a vehicle
- зійти́ (zijtý)to get off an animal which one has been riding; to descend or exit from a vehicle
Vietnamese xuống xe
- xuống xeto get off an animal which one has been riding; to descend or exit from a vehicle
Rhymes & wordplay
Rhymes with alight
Cite this entry
alight. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/alight
“alight.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/alight. Accessed November 2, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “alight,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/alight.
Source: alight on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.