Phrase guide

light up

verb · 17 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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  • Australia: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.

1

verb

Meaning 1

To illuminate, to bring light to something, to brighten.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: lighten, alight, belight, beshine, bright, enlighten, fire, illume, illuminate, illumine, illustrate, irradiate, light, light up, luster, lustrate, shed light on

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

To start to emit light; to become activated as a light source.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: intransitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: gleam, beam, beshine, glow, illuminate, illumine, light up, shine

Antonyms: none provided

3

verb

Meaning 3

To show an increase in activity or a brightening of mood.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: figuratively, intransitive

Examples

  • He saw Mary and his face lit up.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

verb

Meaning 4

To ignite.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: inflame, kindle, aflame, alight, conflagrate, fire, fire up, ignite, light, light up, set ablaze, set afire, set aflame, set alight, set fire, set on fire, torch

Antonyms: none provided

5

verb

Meaning 5

To light a cigarette, pipe, etc.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: intransitive

Examples

  • Smoking in this building is not allowed, so I always step outside to light up.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: spark up

Antonyms: none provided

6

verb

Meaning 6

To light a cigarette, pipe, etc. for (someone).

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

7

verb

Meaning 7

To make happy.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: cheer up, happify, make someone's day, beatify, enrapture, begladden, blissen, bright, cheer, fetch, cherish, content, delight, elate, elevate, enbliss, exhilarate, fain, gay, gladden, gladden someone's heart, gratify, happy, hearten, jollify, laetificate, light up, perk up, please, raise someone's spirits, rejoice, turn the frown upside down, upcheer, warm someone's heart, warm the cockles of someone's heart

Antonyms: none provided

8

verb

Meaning 8

To introduce (someone to something), to make someone aware of or interested in something; turn on.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

9

verb

Meaning 9

To open fire on a target or group of targets, especially with rockets, a flamethrower, etc.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: slang, transitive

Examples

  • telling me to light it up if it didn't stop approaching

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

10

verb

Meaning 10

To shock (someone) with a stun gun.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: US, slang, transitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: tase

Antonyms: none provided

11

verb

Meaning 11

To activate the emergency sirens on a police vehicle in order to pull someone over.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: US, slang, transitive

Examples

  • I guess he doesn't realize who's behind him, because the way he's darting and weaving, he's practically begging me to light him up.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

12

verb

Meaning 12

To loosen, slacken, or ease off.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

Topics: nautical, transport

Examples

  • to light up the jib-sheets

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

13

verb

Meaning 13

make lighter or brighter

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • This lamp lightens the room a bit

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: light, illume, illumine, illuminate

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: lighten, lighten up

Narrower terms: floodlight, spotlight

14

verb

Meaning 14

begin to smoke

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • After the meal, some of the diners lit up

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: fire up, light

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: ignite, light

15

verb

Meaning 15

start to burn with a bright flame

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • The coal in the BBQ grill finally lit up

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: erupt, ignite, catch fire, take fire, combust, conflagrate

16

verb

Meaning 16

ignite

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • The sky lit up quickly above the raging volcano

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: ignite, light

17

verb

Meaning 17

become clear

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • The sky cleared after the storm

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: clear up, clear, brighten

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

Phrasal verb from light (“to make bright, ignite”, verb) + up (“to a higher degree”, adverb).

Phrasal verb from light (“to make less heavy”, verb) + up (“to a higher degree”, adverb).

Across languages

Translations

41 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Bulgarian: осветя́вам (osvetjávam) — to bring light to something
  • Bulgarian: осветя́ (osvetjá) — to bring light to something
  • Bulgarian: осветля́вам (osvetljávam) — to bring light to something
  • Bulgarian: осветля́ (osvetljá) — to bring light to something
  • Finnish: valaista — to bring light to something
  • Galician: acender — to bring light to something
  • German: erhellen — to bring light to something
  • German: erleuchten — to bring light to something
  • German: beleuchten — to bring light to something
  • Latin: incendō — to bring light to something
  • Luxembourgish: beliichten — to bring light to something
  • Nahuatl: tlāhuīlia — to bring light to something
  • Romanian: ilumina — to bring light to something
  • Romanian: lumina — to bring light to something
  • Russian: свети́ть (svetítʹ) — to bring light to something
  • Russian: освети́ть (osvetítʹ) — to bring light to something
  • Spanish: iluminar — to bring light to something
  • Swedish: lysa upp — to bring light to something
  • Turkish: aydınlatmak — to bring light to something
  • Bulgarian: засве́тя (zasvétja) — to become light
  • Finnish: valjeta — to become light
  • German: aufleuchten — to become light
  • German: aufglühen — to become light
  • German: aufflammen — to become light
  • Romanian: lumina — to become light
  • Russian: свети́ться (svetítʹsja) — to become light
  • Russian: освети́ться (osvetítʹsja) — to become light
  • Russian: светле́ть (svetlétʹ) — to become light
  • Russian: просветле́ть (prosvetlétʹ) — to become light
  • Russian: загора́ться (zagorátʹsja) — to become light
  • Russian: загоре́ться (zagorétʹsja) — to become light
  • Bulgarian: па́ля (pálja) — to light a cigarette, etc.
  • Bulgarian: запа́лвам (zapálvam) — to light a cigarette, etc.
  • Bulgarian: запа́ля (zapálja) — to light a cigarette, etc.
  • Finnish: panna tupakaksi — to light a cigarette, etc.
  • German: anrauchen — to light a cigarette, etc.
  • German: anzünden — to light a cigarette, etc.
  • Russian: прику́ривать (prikúrivatʹ) — to light a cigarette, etc.
  • Russian: прикури́ть (prikurítʹ) — to light a cigarette, etc.
  • Russian: зажига́ть (zažigátʹ) — to light a cigarette, etc.
  • Russian: заже́чь (zažéčʹ) — to light a cigarette, etc.