LIGHTLY Definition & Meaning

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lightly

[ lahyt-lee ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

adverb

with little weight, force, intensity, etc.; gently:
to press lightly on a door bell.
to only a small amount or degree; slightly:
lightly fried eggs.
nimbly; quickly:
to leap lightly aside.
with a lack of concern; indifferently; slightly:
to think lightly of one's achievements.
cheerfully; without complaining:
to take bad news lightly.
without due consideration or reason (often used negatively):
an offer not to be refused lightly.
without trouble or effort; easily:
Lightly come, lightly go.
frivolously; flippantly:
to behave lightly.
airily; buoyantly:
flags floating lightly.

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51�Թ� History and Origins

Origin of lightly¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English lightli, Old English ��ŧ�ǳ�ٱ�ī��; light ², -ly

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Idioms and Phrases

see get off (lightly) ; once over lightly .

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

The UK appeared to have come off lightly compared to other economies.

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Shooting a dog was "never a decision taken lightly by our armed officers", police said.

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And yet there is a sigh of relief from some who feel the UK escaped lightly – compared to our biggest trading partner, the European Union – by receiving a tariff of 10%.

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Even though you may wet it during some part of the precooking process — like dipping it in egg before dredging it in flour — it should be dry or only lightly oiled before cooking.

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And like having a human child, that choice shouldn’t come lightly.

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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

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