lights out

American  

noun

1. Chiefly Military. a signal, usually by drum or bugle, that all or certain camp or barracks lights are to be extinguished for the night.

2. bedtime.

---

lights out British  

noun

1. the time when those resident at an institution, such as soldiers in barracks or children at a boarding school, are expected to retire to bed

2. a fanfare or other signal indicating or signifying this

---

Etymology

Origin of lights out

First recorded in 1865–70

---

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

lights out

"It means we can potentially design drugs that target the parasite's ARK1 specifically, turning the lights out on malaria without harming the patient."

From Science Daily ● Mar. 5, 2026

Since then those stocks have been lights out, up 76% in 2023, 47.5% in 2024, and 19.3% last year, beating the market every year, according to FactSet.

From Barron's ● Mar. 5, 2026

The strategy shot the lights out when the housing and dotcom bubbles burst.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 19, 2026

While the Scots weren't shooting the lights out in attack, they also allowed Belarus to be comfortable for large parts of the game.

From BBC ● Oct. 12, 2025

Mr. Oshiro had seen one drifting on the tide, its engine cut, its running lights out, below the bluff near his home on Crescent Bay, a mere silhouette in the night.

From "Snow Falling on Cedars: A Novel" by David Guterson

Random Word

Spin the wheel and learn a new word!

---

Related Words

• collapse
• departure
• dissolution
• downfall
• extinction
• failure
• passing
• termination

---