lightly
[lahyt-lee]
- 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.
- easily; without trouble or effort: Lightly come, lightly go.
- frivolously; flippantly: to behave lightly.
- airily; buoyantly: flags floating lightly.
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Origin of lightly
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Related Words
easily, delicately, casually, tenderly, moderately, gingerly, softly, simply, mildly, freely, quietly, slightly, sparsely, faintly, subtly, carelessly, indifferently, nimbly, peacefully, readilyExamples from the Web for lightly
Contemporary Examples
And it often travels so lightly that you can forget you are clothed in its benefits.
On a lightly floured board, roll each pastry to an 11-inch square.
Future lives, careers and attitudes were being determined in this lightly regulated fever.
They also emboldened the Kurdish defenders, who are lightly armed and fending off heavy armor.
He had been involved in an accident while he “was lightly hovering.”
Historical Examples
The moral customs of their countries were possibly held by them lightly.
The Conquest of FearBasil King
But daddy's attentions were for few, and not to be lightly received.
KMary Roberts Rinehart
She had kissed him lightly on the cheek before he knew what she intended to do.
KMary Roberts Rinehart
Yates caught up a handful of sand, and flung it lightly against the pane.
In the Midst of AlarmsRobert Barr
"Been rolling that to the top of the mountain," he said lightly.
Her Father's DaughterGene Stratton-Porter
Word Origin and History for lightly
adv.
Old English leohtlice "so as not to be heavy" (of material things, but also of sleep, blows, etc.); cognate with Old Frisian lichtelik, Old High German lihtlihho, German leichtlich, Old Norse lettlega (see light (adj.1)). Meaning "frivolously, indifferently" is from early 13c.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Idioms and Phrases with lightly
lightly
see get off (lightly); once over lightly.
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The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.