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

Etymology

Origin of lightheaded

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

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

Some also reported their heartracing and feeling lightheaded.

From Salon ● Apr. 19, 2025

Twice in recent weeks, Alvarez said, she grew lightheaded and ended up vomiting in the restroom.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 29, 2024

People can also feel lightheaded or faint during removal.

From Slate ● Aug. 23, 2024

He felt weirdly lightheaded as he went into the field to search.

From "Atonement" by Ian McEwan