lit

¹ American  

[lit] / lɪt /

verb

1. a simple past tense and past participle of light.

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adjective

1. Slang. under the influence of liquor or narcotics; intoxicated (usually followed byup ).

2. Slang. amazing; awesome; cool (used as a general term of approval).

   Today's rally was really lit!

lit ² American  

[lit] / lɪt /

verb

1. a simple past tense and past participle of light.

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lit ³ American  

[lit] / lɪt /

noun

Informal.

1. literature.

   a college course in English lit.

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lit ⁴ American  

[lit] / lɪt /

noun

1. litas.

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lit. ⁵ American  

abbreviation

1. liter; liters.

2. literal.

3. literally.

4. literary.

5. literature.

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Lit. ⁶ American  

abbreviation

1. (in Italy) lira; lire.

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lit. ¹ British  

abbreviation

1. literal(ly)

2. literary

3. literature

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lit ² British  

/ lɪt /

verb

1. a past tense and past participle of light 1

2. an alternative past tense and past participle of light 2

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Etymology

Origin of lit¹

First recorded in 1895–1900 in the sense “intoxicated”

Origin of lit³

First recorded in 1850–55; by shortening

Example Sentences

Young faces lit up with joy as award winners bounced to the podium.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 31, 2026

The space is dimly lit and always packed, with wood-paneled walls, mounted antlers, and crisp white tablecloths setting the tone.

From Salon • Mar. 31, 2026

"But I lit up. It was like I was possessed. I knew I had to get on that plane."

From BBC • Mar. 28, 2026

When the tuft cells were exposed to succinate, a compound released by parasitic worms, the nearby sensor cells lit up.

From Science Daily • Mar. 28, 2026

Yet even then I could see there was something very unusual, very spirited about her—the steely look in her eye, the sudden smile that lit up her whole face.

From "An Elephant in the Garden" by Michael Morpurgo

Related Words

• stoned
• tipsy