lightly

[ lahyt-lee ]

/ ˈlaɪt li /

Save This Word!

See synonyms for lightly on Thesaurus.com

adverb

with little weight, force, intensity, etc.; gently: to press lightly on a door bell.

to only a small amount or degree; slightly: lightly fried eggs.

nimbly; quickly: to leap lightly aside.

with a lack of concern; indifferently; slightly: to think lightly of one's achievements.

cheerfully; without complaining: to take bad news lightly.

without due consideration or reason (often used negatively): an offer not to be refused lightly.

without trouble or effort; easily: Lightly come, lightly go.

frivolously; flippantly: to behave lightly.

airily; buoyantly: flags floating lightly.

QUIZ

QUIZ YOURSELF ON AFFECT VS. EFFECT!

In effect, this quiz will prove whether or not you have the skills to know the difference between “affect” and “effect.”

Question 1 of 7

The rainy weather could not ________ my elated spirits on my graduation day.

affect

effect

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Meet Grammar Coach

Write or paste your essay, email, or story into Grammar Coach and get grammar help

Improve Your Writing

Meet Grammar CoachImprove Your Writing

Origin of lightly

First recorded before 900; Middle English lightli, Old English lēohtlīce; see light², -ly

Words nearby lightly

lighting-up time, light into, lightish, lightless, light line, lightly, light machine gun, light meat, light meter, light microscope, light middleweight

How to use lightly in a sentence

West Maui is home to some notable restaurants, from Lahaina’s Star Noodle, with its ultra-fresh noodles and lightly battered tempura shrimp, to the seafood selections at Mala Ocean Tavern and its views of vessels at anchor.
A Maui vacation in three acts|Alex Pulaski|February 12, 2021|Washington Post
Molded quickly from local clay, baked dry in the sun or lightly fired, they were clearly not put on a shelf to be admired or worshipped.
What archaeologists got wrong about female statues, goddesses, and fertility|Annalee Newitz|February 10, 2021|Popular-Science
You can check out our full conversation in the video above, or read highlights in the transcript below, lightly edited for length and clarity.
How Gideon the Ninth author Tamsyn Muir queers the space opera|Constance Grady|February 5, 2021|Vox
AMA — “World League”West London’s own AMA is not to be taken lightly.
Soulection’s Joe Kay Presents ‘A Beginner’s Guide To Future Sounds’|Brande Victorian|February 5, 2021|Essence.com

It’s an incredible story, and it’s something we don’t take lightly.
Pacers’ Caris LeVert has successful surgery to remove cancerous growth; team expects full recovery|Des Bieler|January 27, 2021|Washington Post
And it often travels so lightly that you can forget you are clothed in its benefits.
What Would Happen if I Got in White Cop’s Face?|Goldie Taylor|December 30, 2014|DAILY BEAST
“We do not take attacks on our police officers lightly,” Bratton said.
Protesters Slimed This Good Samaritan Cop|Michael Daly|December 16, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Snow fell lightly Wednesday as a League member standing in front of City Hall read the demands.
Eric Garner Protesters Have a Direct Line to City Hall|Jacob Siegel|December 11, 2014|DAILY BEAST
On a lightly floured board, roll each pastry to an 11-inch square.
Make These Barefoot Contessa Chicken Pot Pies|Ina Garten|November 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Future lives, careers and attitudes were being determined in this lightly regulated fever.
The Castration of Alan Turing, Britain’s Code-Breaking WWII Hero|Clive Irving|November 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
He heard himself saying lightly, though with apparent lack of interest: 'How curious, Lettice, how very odd!
The Wave|Algernon Blackwood
We have said it had been lightly laden at starting, which was the reason of the tremendous pace at which it travelled.
The Giant of the North|R.M. Ballantyne
He rose and kissed her lightly on the forehead, experience teaching him to avoid a stray hair from the carefully built coiffure.
Ancestors|Gertrude Atherton
Its tiny wreath of smoke curled lightly about her, mounting up in the warm, bright room.
Bella Donna|Robert Hichens
She slept lightly at first, half awake and drowsily attentive to the things about her.
The Awakening and Selected Short Stories|Kate Chopin

Other Idioms and Phrases with lightly

lightly

see get off (lightly); once over lightly.

lightly

Origin of lightly

Words nearby lightly

Words related to lightly

How to use lightly in a sentence

Other Idioms and Phrases with lightly