lit.

UK: /lɪt/

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

lit. abbreviation

1. literal(ly)
2. literary
3. literature

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

lit¹ /lɪt/   v. 

1. a pt. and pp. of light¹.

adj. 

2. Slang Terms under the influence of liquor;
   drunk.

-lit-, root. 

1. Weights and Measures -lit- comes from Latin, where it has the meaning "letter;
   read;
   word.'' This meaning is found in such words as: alliteration, illiterate, letter, literacy, literal, literary, obliterate, unlettered.

lit.,  an abbreviation of:

1. Weights and Measures liter.
2. literal.
3. literally.
4. literary.
5. Literature literature.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

lit¹  (lit), v. 

1. a pt. and pp. of light ¹.

adj. 

2. Slang Terms under the influence of liquor or narcotics;
   intoxicated (usually fol. by up).

• 1910–15 for def. 2

lit²  (lit), n. 

1. Currency litas.

lit³  (lit), v. 

1. a pt. and pp. of light ³.

lit⁴  (lit), n. [Informal.]

1. Informal Terms literature:
   a college course in English lit.

• by shortening

Lit., 

1. Currency (in Italy) lira;
   lire.

lit., 

1. Weights and Measures liter;
   liters.
2. literal.
3. literally.
4. literary.
5. Literature literature.