lightly
Americanadverb
-
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.
-
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.
Etymology
Origin of lightly
First recorded before 900; Middle English lightli, Old English lēohtlīce; light 2, -ly
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.
"A dear friend who wore his genius lightly, he could, and did, turn his pen to any subject, challenging, moving and inspiring his audiences, borne from his own personal history," they said.
From BBC
Tear them into rustic chunks and toast lightly in butter until the edges crisp and scent curls through the kitchen.
From Salon
Crow then dispatched an adviser to tell prosecutors: Don’t go lightly on these kids, prosecute them to the fullest extent of the law, people familiar with the conversation recounted.
Knowing readers are out there cooking and thinking alongside me is a gift I don’t take lightly.
From Salon
“We do not take this step of removing open-ended Character chat lightly—but we do think that it’s the right thing to do.”
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.
