Advertisement
Advertisement
lightly
[ lahyt-lee ]
adverb
- with little weight, force, intensity, etc.; gently:
to press lightly on a door bell.
- to only a small amount or degree; slightly:
lightly fried eggs.
to leap lightly aside.
- with a lack of concern; indifferently; slightly:
to think lightly of one's achievements.
- cheerfully; without complaining:
to take bad news lightly.
- without due consideration or reason (often used negatively):
an offer not to be refused lightly.
- without trouble or effort; easily:
Lightly come, lightly go.
- frivolously; flippantly:
to behave lightly.
- airily; buoyantly:
flags floating lightly.
Word History and Origins
Idioms and Phrases
see get off (lightly) ; once over lightly .Example Sentences
"We will reach net zero in a way that treads lightly on people's lives, not telling them how to live or behave," said the prime minister's official spokesman.
“At the same time, I feel like I want to be very responsible with this, because it’s not something to be taken lightly.”
Iamaleava completed 63.8% of his passes for 2,616 yards with 19 touchdowns and five interceptions, though critics pointed out that eight of those touchdowns came against lightly regarded Texas El Paso and Vanderbilt.
Just tread lightly if you’re feeding a crowd—spice tolerance can vary wildly.
Scoop the dough into tablespoon-sized balls and roll lightly in your hands to smooth.
Advertisement
Related Words
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.
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Browse