Standard Lemma guide

light-footed

adj · verb · 3 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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  • lītʹfo͝ot'(ĭ)d

1

adj

Meaning 1

Fast on one's feet, not plodding; nimble, agile.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

simple past and past participle of light-foot, ran.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: form-of, participle, past

Examples

  • We light-footed it out of there before we were caught.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

adjective

Meaning 3

(of movement) having a light and springy step

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • a light-footed girl

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: heavy-footed

History

Etymology

From Middle English liȝtfoted, liht fotyd, alteration of earlier lyghtfote, liȝtt-fot (“light-footed”), equivalent to light + foot + -ed.

Across languages

Translations

4 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Bulgarian: бързоног (bǎrzonog) — fast on one's feet
  • Bulgarian: чевръст (čevrǎst) — fast on one's feet
  • Hebrew: קַל רַגְלַיִם (qal ragláim) — fast on one's feet
  • Pannonian Rusyn: лєгконоги (ljehkonohi) — fast on one's feet