lightly

American

[lahyt-lee] / ˈlaɪt li /

adverb

with little weight, force, intensity, etc.; gently.

to press lightly on a door bell.
to only a small amount or degree; slightly.

lightly fried eggs.
nimbly; quickly.

to leap lightly aside.
with a lack of concern; indifferently; slightly.

to think lightly of one's achievements.
cheerfully; without complaining.

to take bad news lightly.
without due consideration or reason (often used negatively).

an offer not to be refused lightly.
without trouble or effort; easily.

Lightly come, lightly go.
frivolously; flippantly.

to behave lightly.
airily; buoyantly.

flags floating lightly.

lightly Idioms

see get off (lightly); once over lightly.

Etymology

Origin of lightly

First recorded before 900; Middle English lightli, Old English lēohtlīce; see light ², -ly

Vocabulary lists containing lightly

Spelling Practice, Unit 7

Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

At least two people were seriously injured and about 20 others were more lightly hurt, according to the fire service.

From Barron's • May 4, 2026

To confirm that abdominal pressure was the key factor, the team applied gentle, controlled pressure to the abdomens of lightly anesthetized mice.

From Science Daily • May 1, 2026

He asked them to bring their “tools” — broom, stethoscope, an oxygen tank—and posed them against a lightly wrinkled cloth backdrop with natural light.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 26, 2026

Heifetz said that she doesn’t presume to speak for Butler, and knows she didn’t come to decisions lightly.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 23, 2026

Though her hair had been piled up, her skin still appeared lightly gray and sickly, her features human but gaunt.

From "Night Owls" by A.R. Vishny

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023