: in a light manner: such as
a
: with little weight or force : gently
b
: with indifference or carelessness : unconcernedly
the problem should not be passed over lightly—
Shelly Halpern
Shelly Halpern
c
: with little difficulty : easily
d
: gaily, cheerfully
f
: in a small degree or amount
lightly salted food
Examples of lightly in a Sentence
He talks lightly about the problems he's been having at work.
She moved lightly across the room.
These vegetables can be eaten either raw or lightly cooked.
Our troops were armed too lightly to take on the heavily armed invaders.
Considering the harm he did, he's gotten off lightly with only a warning.
The judge let her off lightly with a short sentence.
Recent Examples on the Web
The transcript has been lightly edited for clarity.
—Jason Lemon, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Sep. 2025
Cook in batches in an air fryer at 360°F until tender and lightly browned, 12 to 15 minutes.
—Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 Sep. 2025
The cups are lightly lined and offer plenty of coverage to avoid spillage.
—Rachel Trujillo, PEOPLE, 21 Sep. 2025
Then, during one or two moments of lightly overstepping the limit of grip, the S5’s good chassis communication enabled easy correction via a hint of counter-steer.
—Peter Nelson, Forbes.com, 20 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for lightly
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Jason Lemon, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Sep. 2025
Cook in batches in an air fryer at 360°F until tender and lightly browned, 12 to 15 minutes.
—Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 Sep. 2025
The cups are lightly lined and offer plenty of coverage to avoid spillage.
—Rachel Trujillo, PEOPLE, 21 Sep. 2025
Then, during one or two moments of lightly overstepping the limit of grip, the S5’s good chassis communication enabled easy correction via a hint of counter-steer.
—Peter Nelson, Forbes.com, 20 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for lightly
Cite this Entry
“Lightly.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lightly. Accessed 22 Sep. 2025.
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