alight

UK: /əˈlaɪt/ US: /əˈlaɪt/ ,(ə līt′)

Inflections of 'alight' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

alights

v 3rd person singular

alighting

v pres p

alighted

v past

alit

v past (Less common)

alighted

v past p

alit

v past p (Less common)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

a•light¹ /əˈlaɪt/   v. [no object] , a•light•ed or a•lit/əˈlɪt/  a•light•ing. 

1. to climb down from a horse, descend from a vehicle to the ground, etc.:
   She alighted gracefully from the limousine.
2. to descend and come to rest:
   The bird alighted on the branch.

a•light² /əˈlaɪt/   adj. 

1. having light;
   provided with light;
   lighted up: [be + ~]
   The room was alight.
   [after a noun]
   eyes alight.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

a•light¹  (ə līt′), v.i., a•light•ed or a•lit, a•light•ing. 

1. to dismount from a horse, descend from a vehicle, etc.
2. to settle or stay after descending:
   The bird alighted on the tree.
3. to encounter or notice something accidentally.

• Middle English alighten, Old English ālīhtan, equivalent. to ā- a-³ + līhtan to relieve (origin, originally an animal mount) of weight, light²) bef. 1000

a•light²  (ə līt′), adv., adj. 

1. provided with light;
   lighted up.
2. on fire;
   burning.

• bef. 1000; now taken as a-¹ + light¹; origin, originally past participle of alight to light up (Middle English alihten, Old English onlīhtan, equivalent. to on a-¹ + līhtan to light¹)

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

alight / əˈlaɪt/ verb (alights, alighting, alighted, alit)(intransitive)

1. (usually followed by from) to step out (of) or get down (from): to alight from a taxi
2. to come to rest; settle; land: a thrush alighted on the wall

Etymology: Old English ālīhtan, from a-² + līhtan to make less heavy, from līht light²

alight / əˈlaɪt/ adjective , adverb (postpositive)

1. burning; on fire
2. illuminated; lit up

Etymology: Old English ālīht lit up, from ālīhtan to light up; see light¹