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. 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; lighten ¹, -ing ¹

Compare meaning

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

• lightning vs. lightening

Example Sentences

There are rules around the type of cloud, lightning and electrical field, weather and temperature around Cape Canaveral that need to be cleared before the weather officer gives a 'go for launch'

From BBC • Mar. 30, 2026

The flip side to GenAI’s disappointing pace is the lightning speed that newer and more advanced AI models, particularly from Anthropic’s Claude, are having—perhaps most notably on software and services companies.

From Barron's • Mar. 30, 2026

Or it could lead to a dry-thunderstorm outbreak, with lightning that could cause multiple wildfire ignitions, as took place in 2020 in Central and Northern California with the remnants of Tropical Storm Fausto.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 20, 2026

“Heat causes more deaths in the U.S. annually than floods, storms, and lightning combined,” said Muntu Davis, L.A.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 18, 2026

We did have a storm, with thunder and lightning, a couple of days later.

From "Ida B" by Katherine Hannigan