lucid
Americanadjective
-
easily understood; completely intelligible or comprehensible.
a lucid explanation.
- Synonyms:
- obvious, evident, understandable, plain
- Antonyms:
- obscure
-
characterized by clear perception or understanding; rational or sane.
a lucid moment in his madness.
- Synonyms:
- reasonable, sound
- Antonyms:
- irrational
-
shining or bright.
- Antonyms:
- dim
-
clear; pellucid; transparent.
- Synonyms:
- limpid
- Antonyms:
- obscure
adjective
-
readily understood; clear
-
shining or glowing
-
psychiatry of or relating to a period of normality between periods of insane or irresponsible behaviour
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of lucid
First recorded in 1575–85; from Latin lūcidus, equivalent to lūc- (stem of lūx light 1 ) + -idus -id 4
Explanation
Something that's lucid is clear and understandable. Lucid writing is important in journalism, so that readers easily get the point of the article they're reading. When what you write or say is lucid, it's straightforward and its meaning is crystal clear. You can also use the adjective lucid to describe your mind or thoughts when you're thinking in a rational, sensible way: "I was worried about my grandmother's confusion yesterday, but she seems really lucid today." Another meaning is "translucent," or "letting light shine through" — which makes sense since lucid comes from the Latin lucidus, "light or clear," with its root of lux, "light."
Vocabulary lists containing lucid
Let There Be Light: Lum and Luc
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"The Odyssey" by Homer, Books 1–7
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Grade 10, List 4
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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.
And yet here comes Simon Armitage, the poet laureate of the U.K., with his stunning new verse translation, not as a vandal of antiquity but as a lucid accomplice to its endurance.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 24, 2026
Even so, many of the most memorable moments come in the form of cogent micro-essays, smartly curated ensembles of work bearing a legible, lucid premise.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 22, 2026
The second thing to say is that AOC’s actual response to the question, once she finally got there, was entirely lucid and reasonable.
From Salon • Feb. 22, 2026
The findings support the idea that REM sleep, the rapid eye movement stage of sleep when vivid and sometimes lucid dreams occur, may be especially helpful for creative problem solving.
From Science Daily • Feb. 15, 2026
“The doctors think it possible, but daren’t yet say for certain. It should be apparent in a few days’ time when he is rested; then we will see whether he is lucid again.”
From "Vincent and Theo: The Van Gogh Brothers" by Deborah Heiligman
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.
