lighthearted
Americanadjective
Other Word Forms
- lightheartedly adverb
- lightheartedness noun
Etymology
Origin of lighthearted
1375–1425; late Middle English ligt-herted; light 2, heart, -ed 3
Explanation
Someone who tends to be happy and upbeat is lighthearted. When you are shopping for greeting cards, the lighthearted ones are the ones with the corny jokes, not the ones with pictures of dramatic sunsets. Words like joyful, blithe, and happy-go-lucky capture the sense of lighthearted. People can be lighthearted, and so can entertaining things, like lighthearted movies, your uncle's lighthearted teasing, or a lighthearted family sing-along. The "full of cheer" meaning of lighthearted dates from about 1400, from both senses of light: "bright" and "not heavy."
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.
After a video of McDonald’s CEO Chris Kempczinski’s polite bite into a burger went viral this month, top executives from Burger King and Wendy’s pounced with similar videos in a lighthearted dig at their competitor.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 31, 2026
Dunn has reportedly been joking with other members that he’s “back from the dead” and posted a lighthearted proof-of-life video on St. Patrick’s Day.
From Slate • Mar. 21, 2026
"He provides an entertaining and lighthearted way for fans to connect with him and his signature straight-talking, anti-establishment style."
From BBC • Mar. 20, 2026
“Tampa International Airport regularly shares lighthearted, satirical social-media content as part of our ongoing effort to engage with our followers,” the airport said in a statement to MarketWatch.
From MarketWatch • Feb. 26, 2026
I haven’t seen him so lighthearted in months.
From "Without Refuge" by Jane Mitchell
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.
