Dictionary
Thesaurus
Reference
Translate
Web
Related Searches
on Ask.com
Synonyms
Nearby Entries
lightly - 4 dictionary results

light⋅ly

  [lahyt-lee]
Use lightly in a Sentence
–adverb
1. with little weight, force, intensity, etc.; gently: to press lightly on a door bell.
2. to only a small amount or degree; slightly: lightly fried eggs.
3. nimbly; quickly: to leap lightly aside.
4. with a lack of concern; indifferently; slightly: to think lightly of one's achievements.
5. cheerfully; without complaining: to take bad news lightly.
6. without due consideration or reason (often used negatively): an offer not to be refused lightly.
7. easily; without trouble or effort: Lightly come, lightly go.
8. frivolously; flippantly: to behave lightly.
9. airily; buoyantly: flags floating lightly.
Origin:
bef. 900; ME lightli, OE lēohtlīce. See light 2 , -ly
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To lightly
light·ly   (līt'lē)   
adv.  
  1. With little weight or force; gently.
  2. To a slight extent or amount: apply paint lightly.
    1. With little difficulty; easily.
    2. With agility and grace; nimbly.
    3. In a carefree manner; cheerfully: took the news lightly.
    4. Without sufficient care or consideration; indifferently: treated the situation much too lightly.
    1. In a carefree manner; cheerfully: took the news lightly.
    2. Without sufficient care or consideration; indifferently: treated the situation much too lightly.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source

Lightly

Light"ly\, adv. 1. With little weight; with little force; as, to tread lightly; to press lightly.

Yet shall thy grave with rising flowers be drest, And the green turf lie lightly on thy breast. --Pope.

Him thus intent Ithuriel with his spear Touched lightly. --Milton.

2. Swiftly; nimbly; with agility.

So mikle was that barge, it might not lightly sail. --R. of Brunne.

Watch what thou seest and lightly bring me word. --Tennyson.

3. Without deep impression.

The soft ideas of the cheerful note, Lightly received, were easily forgot. --Prior.

4. In a small degree; slightly; not severely.

At the first he lightly afflicted the land of Zebulun . . . and afterward did more grievously afflict her. --Is. ix. 1.

5. With little effort or difficulty; easily; readily.

That lightly come, shall lightly go. --Old Proverb.

They come lightly by the malt, and need not spare it. --Sir W. Scott.

6. Without reason, or for reasons of little weight.

Flatter not the rich, neither do thou willingly or lightly appear before great personages. --Jer. Taylor.

7. Commonly; usually. [Obs.] --Bp. Fisher.

The great thieves of a state are lightly the officers of the crown. --B. Jonson.

8. Without dejection; cheerfully. "Seeming to bear it lightly." --Shak.

9. Without heed or care; with levity; gayly; airily.

Matrimony . . . is not by any to be enterprised, nor taken in hand, unadvisedly, lightly, or wantonly. --Book of Common Prayer [Eng. Ed.].

10. Not chastely; wantonly. --Swift.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
Cite This Source

lightly

see get off (lightly); once over lightly.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
Cite This Source
Search another word or see lightly on Thesaurus | Reference