lightly

[ lahyt-lee ]

adverb

1. with little weight, force, intensity, etc.; gently:

   to press lightly on a door bell.

2. to only a small amount or degree; slightly:

   lightly fried eggs.

3. nimbly; quickly:

   to leap lightly aside.

4. with a lack of concern; indifferently; slightly:

   to think lightly of one's achievements.

5. cheerfully; without complaining:

   to take bad news lightly.

6. without due consideration or reason (often used negatively):

   an offer not to be refused lightly.

7. without trouble or effort; easily:

   Lightly come, lightly go.

8. frivolously; flippantly:

   to behave lightly.

9. airily; buoyantly:

   flags floating lightly.

Word History and Origins

Origin of lightly¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English lightli, Old English lēohtlīce; light ², -ly

Idioms and Phrases

see get off (lightly) ; once over lightly .

Example Sentences

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.

From 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.

From 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.

From Vox

AMA — “World League”West London’s own AMA is not to be taken lightly.

From Essence.com

It’s an incredible story, and it’s something we don’t take lightly.

From Washington Post

And it often travels so lightly that you can forget you are clothed in its benefits.

From The Daily Beast

“We do not take attacks on our police officers lightly,” Bratton said.

From The Daily Beast

Snow fell lightly Wednesday as a League member standing in front of City Hall read the demands.

From The Daily Beast

On a lightly floured board, roll each pastry to an 11-inch square.

From The Daily Beast

Future lives, careers and attitudes were being determined in this lightly regulated fever.

From The Daily Beast

He heard himself saying lightly, though with apparent lack of interest: 'How curious, Lettice, how very odd!

From Project Gutenberg

We have said it had been lightly laden at starting, which was the reason of the tremendous pace at which it travelled.

From Project Gutenberg

He rose and kissed her lightly on the forehead, experience teaching him to avoid a stray hair from the carefully built coiffure.

From Project Gutenberg

Its tiny wreath of smoke curled lightly about her, mounting up in the warm, bright room.

From Project Gutenberg

She slept lightly at first, half awake and drowsily attentive to the things about her.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• casually
• delicately
• easily
• faintly
• freely
• gingerly
• mildly
• moderately
• quietly
• simply
• slightly
• softly
• sparsely
• subtly
• tenderly
• thinly