light up

British  

verb

1. to light a cigarette, pipe, etc

2. to illuminate or cause to illuminate

3. to make or become cheerful or animated

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light up Idioms  

1. Become or cause to become more animated or cheerful, as in Her laughter lit up the whole room , or His face lit up when he saw her . This expression transfers physical illumination to human moods. Also see lighten up . [Mid-1700s]

2. Start smoking a cigar, cigarette, or pipe, as in The minute he got outside the church he lit up . [ Colloquial ; mid-1800s]

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Example Sentences

A mile or so from the pads where Artemis II will light up the sky, Brenda Mulberry, owner of Space Shirts, has been selling Nasa T-shirts and souvenirs for 40 years.

From BBC

NASA’s Artemis II fly-by mission will light up the Florida sky at launch, and observers can watch from miles away.

From The Wall Street Journal

You pull out your phone to call your sister, even if Cassie will be annoyed, but the screen doesn’t light up.

From Literature

The one whose eyes light up when he sees me, even though he doesn’t know and would hate it if he knew that his eyes gave him away.

From Literature

Apple worked with artists to light up the Sydney Opera House in Australia with art designed on the iPad.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• blink
• flicker
• gleam
• glint
• glisten
• glitter
• glow
• illuminate
• shimmer
• sparkle
• wink