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lighting

American  
[lahy-ting] / ˈlaɪ tɪŋ /

noun

  1. the act of igniting or illuminating.

    the lighting of many candles; the annual lighting of the Christmas tree.

  2. the arrangement of lights to achieve particular effects.

    to work out the lighting for one's living room.

  3. an effect achieved by the arrangement of lights.

    Several critics praised the lighting of the play.

  4. the science, theory, or method of achieving particular effects by the use of lights.

  5. the way light falls upon a face, object, etc., especially in a picture.


lighting British  
/ ˈlaɪtɪŋ /

noun

  1. the act or quality of illumination or ignition

  2. the apparatus for supplying artificial light effects to a stage, film, or television set

  3. the distribution of light on an object or figure, as in painting, photography, etc

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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

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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