lightly
Americanadverb
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with little weight, force, intensity, etc.; gently.
to press lightly on a door bell.
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to only a small amount or degree; slightly.
lightly fried eggs.
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to leap lightly aside.
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with a lack of concern; indifferently; slightly.
to think lightly of one's achievements.
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cheerfully; without complaining.
to take bad news lightly.
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without due consideration or reason (often used negatively).
an offer not to be refused lightly.
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without trouble or effort; easily.
Lightly come, lightly go.
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frivolously; flippantly.
to behave lightly.
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airily; buoyantly.
flags floating lightly.
Etymology
Origin of lightly
First recorded before 900; Middle English lightli, Old English lēohtlīce; see light 2, -ly
Vocabulary lists containing lightly
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.
Having a baby at that age is quite rare, to put it lightly.
From Slate ● Oct. 16, 2026
It’s about a month before Holmes begins her prison sentence, and the disgraced Theranos CEO is the picture of domestic bliss, lightly beating a bowl of eggs in the kitchen of a rental home.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 16, 2026
Wall Street wasn’t taking Wednesday’s hot consumer-price index lightly.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 14, 2026
Before the game, Palmer said tat he tells his players to never take an opponent too lightly nor build it up too much.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 3, 2026
Kate touched two of her fingers together, lightly, without making a sound.
From "American Spirits" by Barb Rosenstock
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
