lightly

[ lahyt-lee ]
See synonyms for lightly on Thesaurus.com
adverb
  1. with little weight, force, intensity, etc.; gently: to press lightly on a door bell.

  2. to only a small amount or degree; slightly: lightly fried eggs.

  1. nimbly; quickly: to leap lightly aside.

  2. with a lack of concern; indifferently; slightly: to think lightly of one's achievements.

  3. cheerfully; without complaining: to take bad news lightly.

  4. without due consideration or reason (often used negatively): an offer not to be refused lightly.

  5. without trouble or effort; easily: Lightly come, lightly go.

  6. frivolously; flippantly: to behave lightly.

  7. airily; buoyantly: flags floating lightly.

Origin of lightly

1
First recorded before 900; Middle English lightli, Old English lēohtlīce; see light2, -ly

Words Nearby lightly

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use lightly in a sentence

Other Idioms and Phrases with lightly

lightly

see get off (lightly); once over lightly.

The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.