LIGHTS Synonyms: 248 Similar and Opposite Words

lights 1 of 3

noun

Definition of lights

plural of light

as in glows

the steady giving off of the form of radiation that makes vision possible he read poetry to her by the light of the moon

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in lamps

something that provides illumination turn off the light when you go to bed

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as in stars

a person who is widely known and usually much talked about a leading light in the acting profession

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in sunrises

the first appearance of light in the morning or the time of its appearance with the coming of light we could see all the damage that the storm had caused

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

lights

2 of 3

verb (1)

present tense third-person singular of light

as in burns

to set (something) on fire we lit the kindling before adding the heavier logs

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as in illumines

to supply with light the lights from the TV cameras will light this room as though it were high noon

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lights

3 of 3

verb (2)

present tense third-person singular of light

as in perches

to come to rest after descending from the air the bird lit on the branch and began to sing

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in descends

to come down from something (as a vehicle) he hurriedly lighted from the bus and started walking up the street

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of lights

Noun

The officer reported looking west and at one point and seeing traffic officers with their emergency lights activated and beyond them, runners directly in Wade’s path, according to court documents. — Nathan Pilling, Kansas City Star, 20 Oct. 2026 The patrol vehicle’s emergency lights and sirens were activated, and the officers tried to pull over the Nissan near 44th Street and 14th Avenue. — Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 20 Oct. 2026 By the time the lights dimmed for the halftime show, Sampaio and Martin made good on their promise. — Raymond Braun, Vogue, 20 Oct. 2026 Beginning in December, visitors can experience everything from a Holiday Open House, where local shops open their doors to strolling carolers, to Magic at the Mill, during which the famous DeZwaan windmill glitters with lights. — Jessica Sulima, Condé Nast Traveler, 19 Oct. 2026 Her Yandex home voice assistant, equivalent to an Amazon Echo, stopped responding to requests to play music and turn off the lights. — Yuliya Talmazan, NBC news, 19 Oct. 2026 And when the track finally resumed, the lyrics were nearly drowned out by the eruption of cheers as his silhouette was illuminated by golden lights. — Tanya Fedak, Variety, 19 Oct. 2026 Since Kylie Jenner’s angel debut was meant to be kept under wraps until the moment the lights came up on her in the $50 million Fantasy Bra, the entrepreneur couldn’t very well be seen getting ready with the rest of the Angels backstage. — Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 19 Oct. 2026 Before long there were three squad cars with lights flashing parked in the drive, with a furious Grandpa Joe trying to sort out the trouble. — Kerry Kennedy, Vanity Fair, 13 Oct. 2026

Verb

If Mick hadn’t come cruising into that playground, lights off? — George Saunders, New Yorker, 18 Oct. 2026 Alex Consani walks into a room and lights the whole thing up. — Time, 30 Sep. 2026 Fellow junior defensive back Cody Dean echoed that sentiment, noting that the way the 5-foot-9, 170-pound Garey plays above his size lights a fire under his teammates. — Kyle Newman, Denver Post, 27 Sep. 2026 To avoid attracting kissing bugs and other nocturnal insects to your house, keep firewood and brush piles far away and turn porch lights off at night. — Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 20 Sep. 2026 Moments later, Andrew enters the home and lights a pipe before meeting the same fate. — Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 17 Sep. 2026 State what lights you up, then invite feedback, because collaboration works best when your adventurous spirit meets boundaries. — Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 16 Sep. 2026 Romantic Venus lights your 10th House of Career while unearthing Pluto in your sign, in your 1st House of Identity, demands authenticity in every public move. — Tarot.com, New York Daily News, 15 Sep. 2026 Darken your porch lights from their usual white light to black or yellow bulbs for a spooky look. — Kaitlyn Keegan, Hartford Courant, 14 Sep. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for lights

Noun

Every nightfall is different — different seasonal colors, angels, weather, celestial glows, grasses and shadows.

— Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 1 Oct. 2026
The coating glows when exposed to light, with the intensity changing according to the pressure around it.

— Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 29 Sep. 2026

Definition of glows

Noun

Like the main house, the ADU’s interiors mix new pieces with vintage accessories, including a Room & Board four-poster bed in the bedroom and midcentury ceramic lamps, textiles and artworks that Donnelly found at Los Angeles estate sales.

— Lisa Boone, Los Angeles Times, 20 Oct. 2026
Rather than lighting an entire room, try task lighting like reading lamps, under-the-cabinet light strips, and desk lamps that illuminate a workspace.

— Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 17 Oct. 2026

Definition of lamps

Noun

The unobstructed light is magical, with gorgeous sunrises, sunsets, golden hours…all of it.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026
Start with this warm, dusty pink that’s inspired by the softness of nature, like peaceful sunrises and delicate rose petals.

— Patricia Shannon, Southern Living, 23 Sep. 2026

Definition of sunrises

Verb

The report authors also looked at how climate change could play out differently if the world burns more or fewer fossil fuels and puts in place stronger or weaker policies.

— Blanca Begert, Los Angeles Times, 20 Oct. 2026
Decades later, the fire lit by his first steed, a brown Schwinn Mag Scrambler, still burns bright.

— Stewart Clarke, Deadline, 19 Oct. 2026

Definition of burns

Verb

During the Halloween season, Shawn and Ryan Tofte’s house illuminates with a cool blue hue while jack-o’-lanterns provide a warm glow on the steps and yard.

— Patrick Connolly, The Orlando Sentinel, 22 Oct. 2026
Unlike a standard microscope, which illuminates an entire sample at once and can produce blurry images, a confocal microscope focuses on one depth level at a time.

— Molly Herring, Quanta Magazine, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of illuminates

Verb

At the top of the hill, in a completely different style, perches the Neoclassical royal palace.

— Benjamin Moser, Travel + Leisure, 8 Sep. 2026
Live streams from entertainment events like the Grammys or Golden Globes aren’t typically perches for controversy, but, says Anthony McCartney, AP’s entertainment and lifestyles editor, celebrities will sometimes be asked to weigh in on recent headlines.

— Brian Steinberg, Variety, 16 Mar. 2026

Definition of perches

Browse Nearby Words

lightproof

lights

lightship

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Cite this Entry

Style

“Lights.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lights. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of lights

noun

verb (1)

verb (2)

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