alight
verb (used without object)
to dismount from a horse, descend from a vehicle, etc.
had alighted
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past perfectof alight.past perfect
Used to express a completed action that took place before another specific past action occurred.
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.
The scientists, led by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, had alighted upon what they called an “octopus garden.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 30, 2023
By selecting Beijing, the committee had alighted on a “safe choice,” said Thomas Bach, the committee’s president.
From New York Times ● Jan. 22, 2022
Eventually, they had alighted on a diagnosis of thallium poisoning.
From The Guardian ● Jan. 19, 2016
The other Russians had alighted from the chartered plane earlier during a stop at a British military base.
From Washington Post ● Jul. 10, 2010
A thrush had alighted on a bough not five meters away, almost at the level of their faces.
From "1984" by George Orwell
