lightheaded

American  

[lahyt-hed-id] / ˈlaɪtˈhɛd ɪd /

adjective

1. giddy, dizzy, or delirious.

   After two drinks Pat began to feel lightheaded.

2. having or showing a frivolous or volatile disposition; thoughtless.

   lightheaded persons.

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Other Word Forms

• lightheadedness
  noun
• lightheadedly
  adverb

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Etymology

Origin of lightheaded

First recorded in 1530–40; light ² + head + -ed ³

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Explanation

If you're lightheaded, you're dizzy and faint, and you might need to sit down for a minute. The sight of enormous spiders makes some people feel lightheaded. Standing up quickly can make you lightheaded, and you can also make yourself lightheaded by forgetting to eat lunch or blowing up a huge balloon with one breath. Being lightheaded, while usually not a serious condition, is typically caused by a temporary shortage of oxygen or blood getting to the brain. The word dates from the sixteenth century.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

lightheaded

Sometimes the baths are so hot and I’m in them for such a long time, I do get lightheaded.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 11, 2026

This was why I’d been feeling so lightheaded, and it was the cause of my hoarseness.

From Slate ● Apr. 18, 2026

Certainly not lightheaded, or with his empty belly growling from hunger.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 12, 2025

Mrs Chesterton told the BBC that her daughter had "difficulty walking" and "was breathless and lightheaded".

From BBC ● May 14, 2025

“If it’s any excuse, I’ve noticed just lately that I’m rather lightheaded in your presence. I mean, I've never gone barefoot into someone’s house before. It must be the heat!”

From "Atonement" by Ian McEwan

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