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.

---

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

My sore throat was gone, but speaking for more than 10 seconds made me lightheaded, as if I were trying to blow up a balloon simply by talking.

From Slate ● Apr. 18, 2026

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

From BBC ● May 14, 2025

Some also reported their heartracing and feeling lightheaded.

From Salon ● Apr. 19, 2025

Minli won-dered if flying had somehow made him lightheaded.

From "Where the Mountain Meets the Moon" by Grace Lin