lighting

American  

[lahy-ting] / ˈlaɪ tɪŋ /

noun

• lightings
  plural

1. the act of igniting or illuminating.

   the lighting of many candles; the annual lighting of the Christmas tree.

2. the arrangement of lights to achieve particular effects.

   to work out the lighting for one's living room.

3. an effect achieved by the arrangement of lights.

   Several critics praised the lighting of the play.

4. the science, theory, or method of achieving particular effects by the use of lights.

5. the way light falls upon a face, object, etc., especially in a picture.

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lighting British  

/ ˈlaɪtɪŋ /

noun

1. the act or quality of illumination or ignition

2. the apparatus for supplying artificial light effects to a stage, film, or television set

3. the distribution of light on an object or figure, as in painting, photography, etc

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• self-lighting
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• lightings
  plural

Etymology

Origin of lighting

First recorded before 1000; Middle English lightinge, Old English līhting; equivalent to light ¹ + -ing ¹

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

lighting lightings

Dogs snored next to their owners, who were glued to their phones, screens lighting up weary faces.

From Barron's ● Aug. 16, 2026

Builders of major developments in or near dark sky sites would be required to carry out a lighting assessment to justify the need for exterior lights.

From BBC ● Aug. 14, 2026

It can seem like the Dodgers print money with all their high-priced players, but they might as well be lighting it on fire with the relievers they’ve brought in.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 14, 2026

Those openings will arrive as Cava tries to add more greenery, warmer lighting and softer seats to its locations, in an effort to bring in more consumers.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 11, 2026

It was small, with warm wood-paneled walls and low lighting.

From "Impossible Creatures" by Katherine Rundell

In recent weeks, the 63-year-old leftist has been dancing on stage at rallies, calmly strolling trade expos and attending Christmas tree lightings hand-in-hand with his wife.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 30, 2025

“Let’s rededicate ourselves to add more light in honor of those murdered in Sydney. Let’s come out proudly to public menorah lightings, and make sure to kindle our own menorahs at home.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 14, 2025

Menorah lightings grew in prominence during the Clinton years.

From Salon ● Dec. 11, 2020

If your holiday spirits sink at the thought of battling crowds on Wednesday evening to attend the granddaddy of all Christmas tree lightings — Rockefeller Center’s — your family can find electrifying moments elsewhere.

From New York Times ● Nov. 28, 2019

Do they much care for public rejoicings, lightings up, ringing of bells, firing of cannons, &c.?

From The Works of Charles Lamb in Four Volumes, Volume 4 by Charles Lamb