lit

¹

[ lit ]

verb

1. a simple past tense and past participle of light ¹.

adjective

1. Slang. under the influence of liquor or narcotics; intoxicated (usually followed by up ).
2. Slang. amazing; awesome; cool (used as a general term of approval):

   Today's rally was really lit!

lit

²

[ lit ]

verb

1. a simple past tense and past participle of light ³.

lit

³

[ lit ]

noun

, Informal.

1. literature:

   a college course in English lit.

lit

⁴

[ lit ]

noun

1. litas.

lit.

⁵

abbreviation for

1. liter; liters.
2. literal.
3. literally.
4. literary.
5. literature.

Lit.

⁶

abbreviation for

1. (in Italy) lira; lire.

lit

¹

/ lɪt /

verb

1. See light
   a past tense and past participle of light 1
2. See light
   an alternative past tense and past participle of light 2

lit.

²

abbreviation for

1. literal(ly)
2. literary
3. literature

Word History and Origins

Origin of lit¹

First recorded in 1895–1900 in the sense “intoxicated”

Origin of lit²

First recorded in 1850–55; by shortening

Example Sentences

The convergence of these signs lit Morris up like a firecracker.

From The Daily Beast

She retrieved a cigarette from her purse and lit it without moving her face away from the screen.

From The Daily Beast

The church groups make the displays, and the big solstice, I mean, Christmas, tree can be lit after all.

From The Daily Beast

The Hipgnosis founders took a quick look at the strangely-lit photos of contorted bodies….

From The Daily Beast

When it turned night, the seven dwarfs returned home from their work and lit their seven little candles.

From The Daily Beast

Joe looked at her with a smile, his face still solemn and serious for all its youth and the fires of new-lit hope behind his eyes.

From Project Gutenberg

A flash of surprise and pleasure lit the fine eyes of the haughty beauty perched up there on the palace wall.

From Project Gutenberg

Groping to the chimney-place with the aid of his matches, Mr. Collingwood found the candle and lit it.

From Project Gutenberg

She lit another cigarette, and for a few moments looked silently out of the window at the darkening woods beyond the lawn.

From Project Gutenberg

When he was gone, Isaacson returned to his sitting-room upstairs and lit a nargeeleh pipe.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• stoned
• tipsy