lighting
Americannoun
-
the act of igniting or illuminating.
the lighting of many candles; the annual lighting of the Christmas tree.
-
the arrangement of lights to achieve particular effects.
to work out the lighting for one's living room.
-
an effect achieved by the arrangement of lights.
Several critics praised the lighting of the play.
-
the science, theory, or method of achieving particular effects by the use of lights.
-
the way light falls upon a face, object, etc., especially in a picture.
noun
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the act or quality of illumination or ignition
-
the apparatus for supplying artificial light effects to a stage, film, or television set
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the distribution of light on an object or figure, as in painting, photography, etc
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of lighting
First recorded before 1000; Middle English lightinge, Old English līhting; equivalent to light 1 + -ing 1
Vocabulary lists containing lighting
myPerspectives 10.1
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myPerspectives 9.2
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Theater - Introductory
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
With a healthy dose of RuPaul’s signature wit and enough drag queen-friendly lighting to combat Hollywood’s run of dimly lit features, the team revives the disaster spoof with stylish aplomb.
From Salon • Jun. 11, 2026
About eight months after I’d been sworn in as Vice President, I was finishing a meeting when my text messages started lighting up in group chats that included Charlie.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 5, 2026
A spokeswoman said the cost, including flag, production, installation costs and six weeks of lighting, will be between $750,000 and $1 million.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 1, 2026
Hours earlier, a rocket being tested by Jeff Bezos’s space company dramatically exploded on a launchpad at Cape Canaveral, Fla., lighting up the skies for miles around Florida’s Space Coast late Thursday.
From MarketWatch • May 29, 2026
I see Michael in the control booth, regulating volume and lighting in the auditorium.
From "Linked" by Gordon Korman
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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.