lightheaded
Americanadjective
-
giddy, dizzy, or delirious.
After two drinks Pat began to feel lightheaded.
-
having or showing a frivolous or volatile disposition; thoughtless.
lightheaded persons.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of lightheaded
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
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
This was why I’d been feeling so lightheaded, and it was the cause of my hoarseness.
From Slate • Apr. 18, 2026
He came out woozy and lightheaded, temporarily losing 22% of his lung power, and coughed for a month.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 26, 2026
“I was so lightheaded from screaming that I almost fainted,” the 26-year-old told NBC in a phone interview.
From Salon • Jul. 31, 2024
If at any point you feel lightheaded or dizzy, stop immediately and check in with a health care provider.
From Seattle Times • May 20, 2024
I was shivering foolishly and feeling oddly lightheaded.
From "A Walk in the Woods" by Bill Bryson
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.
