light up
Britishverb
-
to light a cigarette, pipe, etc
-
to illuminate or cause to illuminate
-
to make or become cheerful or animated
-
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]
-
Start smoking a cigar, cigarette, or pipe, as in The minute he got outside the church he lit up . [ Colloquial ; mid-1800s]
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.
Apple worked with artists to light up the Sydney Opera House in Australia with art designed on the iPad.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 30, 2026
The list of players of Surinamese heritage to light up European soccer is familiar to anyone who has watched the great Dutch sides of the past 40 years.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 25, 2026
I felt something close to pride as I watched their eyes light up in realization: this was actually a very good sweet — not some leprechaunian trick.
From Salon • Mar. 17, 2026
The system features "smart" bricks able to light up or play sounds and react to movements.
From Barron's • Mar. 10, 2026
The tunnel walls are now white brick, and candles light up as we pass them.
From "The Manifestor Prophecy" by Angie Thomas
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
