Standard Lemma guide

lighthearted

adj · 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

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • CMU ARPABET: L AY1 T HH AA2 R T IH0 D Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

adj

Meaning 1

Joyful, glad, taking pleasure in being alive; not depressed or sad.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • The lighthearted young lovers ran over the hills.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: gladsome, joyous, air-headed, blissed out, blissful, enrapt, rapt, cock-a-hoop, delighted, ecstatic, elated, euphoric, exultant, filled with happiness, giddy, gleeful, greatly pleased, joyful, lighthearted, orgasmic, on cloud nine, over the moon, overjoyed, thrilled, walking on air

Antonyms: none provided

2

adj

Meaning 2

Enjoyably lacking of seriousness, not grave.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • His lighthearted banjo performance was appreciated because it relieved the tension in tight situations.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: easygoing, laid-back, airy, at ease, at peace, carefree, careless, casual, chill, cool, devil-may-care, easy-breezy, happy-go-lucky, indifferent, insouciant, leisurely, lighthearted, loose, mellow, nonchalant, pococurante, relaxed, serene, solute, tranquil, unanxious, unbothered, unconcerned, undisturbed, unruffled, untroubled, unworried, wanton

Antonyms: none provided

3

adjective satellite

Meaning 3

carefree and happy and lighthearted

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • was loved for her blithe spirit
  • a merry blithesome nature
  • her lighthearted nature
  • trilling songs with a lightsome heart

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: blithe, blithesome, lightsome, light-hearted

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

From Middle English lyght hertyd, liȝt-hertid, from light (adjective) + herted, hertid (“having a disposition”, adjective) (equivalent to light + hearted), from the noun herte. See more at light, heart, -ed.

Across languages

Translations

34 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Dutch: zorgeloos — joyful
  • Finnish: ilomielinen — joyful
  • German: unbeschwert — joyful
  • German: fröhlich — joyful
  • Irish: aerach — joyful
  • Irish: gealchroíoch — joyful
  • Italian: spensierato — joyful
  • Latin: hilaris — joyful
  • Polish: beztroski — joyful
  • Polish: wesoły — joyful
  • Scottish Gaelic: aighearach — joyful
  • Spanish: desenfadado — joyful
  • Spanish: despreocupado — joyful
  • Spanish: quitado de la pena — joyful
  • Spanish: alegre — joyful
  • Spanish: que tiene gracia — joyful
  • Swedish: sorglös — joyful
  • Swedish: bekymmerslös — joyful
  • Swedish: glad — joyful
  • Bulgarian: безгрижен (bezgrižen) — enjoyable lack of seriousness
  • Dutch: luchtig — enjoyable lack of seriousness
  • Esperanto: facilanima — enjoyable lack of seriousness
  • Esperanto: malpeze kora — enjoyable lack of seriousness
  • Finnish: kevytmielinen — enjoyable lack of seriousness
  • Finnish: hilpeä — enjoyable lack of seriousness
  • German: unbeschwert — enjoyable lack of seriousness
  • Greek: ελαφρός (elafrós) — enjoyable lack of seriousness
  • Irish: aerach — enjoyable lack of seriousness
  • Polish: lekki — enjoyable lack of seriousness
  • Russian: беззабо́тный (bezzabótnyj) — enjoyable lack of seriousness
  • Scottish Gaelic: aighearach — enjoyable lack of seriousness
  • Spanish: ligero — enjoyable lack of seriousness
  • Spanish: desenfadado — enjoyable lack of seriousness
  • Spanish: leve — enjoyable lack of seriousness
Real reading context

lighthearted in complete knowledge articles

Have Mercy (YBN Cordae song) Arts & music · Accessible · 1 uses