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

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