lightning

American  

[lahyt-ning] / ˈlaɪt nɪŋ /

noun

1. a brilliant electric spark discharge in the atmosphere, occurring within a thundercloud, between clouds, or between a cloud and the ground.

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verb (used without object)

lightninged, lightning

1. to emit a flash or flashes of lightning (often used impersonally with it as subject).

   If it starts to lightning, we'd better go inside.

adjective

1. of, relating to, or resembling lightning, especially in regard to speed of movement: lightning speed.

   lightning flashes;

   lightning speed.

idioms

1. catch lightning in a bottle. see catch lightning in a bottle.

lightning British  

/ ˈlaɪtnɪŋ /

noun

1. a flash of light in the sky, occurring during a thunderstorm and caused by a discharge of electricity, either between clouds or between a cloud and the earth

2. (modifier) fast and sudden

   a lightning raid

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lightning Scientific  

/ līt′nĭng /

1. A flash of light in the sky caused by an electrical discharge between clouds or between a cloud and the Earth's surface. The flash heats the air and usually causes thunder. Lightning may appear as a jagged streak, as a bright sheet, or in rare cases, as a glowing red ball.

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lightning Cultural  

1. An electrical discharge from clouds that have acquired an electrical charge, usually occurring during storms. (See thunder.)

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lightning More Idioms  

More idioms and phrases containing lightning

• like greased lightning
• quick as a wink (lightning)

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Closer Look

As storm clouds develop, the temperature at the top of the cloud becomes much cooler than that at the bottom. For reasons that scientists still do not understand, this temperature difference results in the accumulation of negatively charged particles near the base and positively charged particles near the top of the storm cloud. The negatively charged particles repel the electrons of atoms in nearby objects, such as the bases of other storm clouds or tall objects on the ground. Consequently, these nearby objects take on a positive charge. The difference in charge, or voltage, builds until an electric current starts to flow between the objects along a pathway of charged atoms in the air. The current flow heats up the air to such a degree that it glows, generating lightning. Initially, a bolt of lightning carrying a negative charge darts from one storm cloud to another or from a storm cloud to the ground, leaving the bottom of the cloud with a positive charge. In response, a second bolt (reverse lightning) shoots in the opposite direction (from the other storm cloud or the ground) as the mass of negative charges on it moves back to neutralize the positive charge on the bottom of the first cloud. The heat generated by the lightning causes the air to expand, in turn creating very large sound waves, or thunder.

Etymology

Origin of lightning

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, variant of lightening; see lighten ¹, -ing ¹

Compare meaning

How does lightning compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• lightning vs. lightening

Explanation

When you see sudden bright flashes of light in the sky, you're seeing lightning, the release of electricity between clouds or the ground. Lightning can be scary, and if it strikes a person, it can kill. You can tell how close the lightning is by how long the delay is between the light and the sound of the rolling roar or crack of thunder that accompanies it. If they're close together, get inside, quick! Because lighting strikes so fast, we use its name for other speedy things, like the lightning-fast service at a good coffee shop.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

lightning lightninged

Heat domes can cause "dry thunderstorms," in which rain evaporates before hitting the ground and lightning strikes are liable to trigger wildfires, as much of the western United States is already experiencing drought conditions.

From Barron's ● Jul. 14, 2026

Heat domes also cause "dry thunderstorms" where rain evaporates before hitting the surface and lightning strikes are liable to trigger wildfires.

From Barron's ● Jul. 10, 2026

Some of California’s largest recorded blazes have started with dry lightning strikes, including the August Complex fire, which in 2020 became the state’s first to burn more than a million acres.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 9, 2026

In Rhode Island, rising sea levels, erosion and a centuries-long debate over shoreline access have made coastal development a lightning rod.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 8, 2026

It was pitch-black in the house except for the blinding flashes of lightning she could see outside through the missing wall.

From "Two Degrees" by Alan Gratz

Or really, lightninged out by area storms after only three holes.

From Golf Digest ● Aug. 9, 2019

Having thus lightninged and thundered, Architect Warren ended his declaration with a statement mild as milk.

From Time Magazine Archive

It thundered and lightninged, and blowing a high gale, which was music in our ears, as we knew we were out of danger, and feeling the supreme gratification of knowing what we had escaped.

From The Adventures of a Forty-niner An Historic Description of California, with Events and Ideas of San Francisco and Its People in Those Early Days by Ivanowski, Sigismond de

It thundered and lightninged incessantly, so that his ears rang and his eyes were blinded.

From The Chinese Fairy Book by Wilhelm, Richard

When it thundered and lightninged that old hoss started to dance—thought twas a battle.

From Slave Narratives: a Folk History of Slavery in the United States From Interviews with Former Slaves Arkansas Narratives, Part 2 by Work Projects Administration