alights

Definition of alightsnext
present tense third-person singular of alight
1
as in perches
to come to rest after descending from the air a flock of eight swans circled above, then alighted on the pond

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2
as in descends
to come down from something (as a vehicle) as she alighted from the train, she momentarily lost her footing

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of alights As pleasure-seeking Venus alights within your 5th House of Self-Expression, fun projects sparkle, and your spirited humor invites others to join a playful challenge. Tarot.com, New York Daily News, 6 Mar. 2026 But before the action alights in the location of the latest dispute between adjacent property owners to catch the eye of directors Harrison Fishman and Dylan Redford (yes, grandson of Robert), the shot fills with the telltale red, white and blue of the American flag. Alison Herman, Variety, 13 Feb. 2026 Cash, an editor at Forever Magazine, has written a first novel that alights on plenty of hot topics without seeming limited by them. Jasmine Vojdani, Vulture, 12 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for alights
Verb
  • Live streams from entertainment events like the Grammys or Golden Globes aren’t typically perches for controversy, but, says Anthony McCartney, AP’s entertainment and lifestyles editor, celebrities will sometimes be asked to weigh in on recent headlines.
    Brian Steinberg, Variety, 16 Mar. 2026
  • Even the squirrels in the backyard and the bird that perches on the deck are put on notice.
    Sherri Gordon, Parents, 10 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Holy Week begins with a triumphal procession, descends into betrayal and death, and ends with resurrection.
    The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 5 Apr. 2026
  • Ribbon Fall, which descends 1,612 feet and marks Yosemite’s single largest drop, is a slender plunge and could be gone by June, Goehring says.
    Kurtis Alexander, San Francisco Chronicle, 4 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Prioritize balance by naming what fits today and what lands tomorrow.
    Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 3 Apr. 2026
  • Economic impact almost always leads the news when a city lands the NFL draft.
    Adam Annaccone, The Conversation, 1 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • When border agents board during a stop (each with wanted posters of Philip and Elizabeth), Paige disembarks.
    Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 30 Jan. 2026
  • In the climax, the yacht docks in Norway, and everyone disembarks.
    Keith Langston, PEOPLE, 11 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Alights.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/alights. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.

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