alight
/ə'lait/
Definition
Verb:
- To descend from a vehicle or mode of transport: To step down or get off from a bus, train, horse, bicycle, etc.
- To land or settle after flight: To come down from the air and rest on a surface, typically used for birds, insects, or aircraft.
Adjective:
- Lit up; on fire: Burning or glowing with light.
- Brightened or illuminated: Showing excitement or happiness, often in one's expression.
Usage Examples
Verb:
- Please wait for the bus to stop completely before you alight.
- The sparrow alighted on the branch.
Adjective:
- The torches were alight, illuminating the path.
- Her face was alight with joy when she heard the news.
Advanced Usage
- "to alight from": to disembark from a vehicle.
- Passengers should alight from the rear doors.
- "to alight on/upon": to land on a surface; (figuratively) to find or notice something by chance.
- The butterfly alighted upon a flower.
- During her research, she alighted upon a fascinating piece of information.
Variants and Related Words
- Ablaze (adj): Burning fiercely; very brightly lit.
- Aflare (adj): Flaring or blazing.
- Aflame (adj): In flames; burning.
- Light (v): To come down to rest; to land (archaic or formal, similar to 'alight').
Synonyms
- Verb: Descend, disembark, dismount, land, perch, settle.
- Adjective: Lit, illuminated, burning, blazing, glowing, bright.
Related Phrasal Verbs
- Alight from: To get off a vehicle.
- We will alight from the train at the next station.
- Alight on/upon: To land on; to discover.
- The detective's gaze alighted on a crucial clue.
Related Idioms
- To set alight: To ignite or cause to burn.
- A spark from the engine set the dry grass alight.
- Eyes alight with: Showing a strong positive emotion in one's eyes.
- The children's eyes were alight with anticipation.
Adjective
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lighted up by or as by fire or flame
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forests set ablaze (or afire) by lightning
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even the car's tires were aflame
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a night aflare with fireworks
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candles alight on the tables
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houses on fire
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Verb
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come down
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the birds alighted
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to come to rest, settle
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Misfortune lighted upon him
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