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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in descends
to come down from something (as a vehicle)
as she alighted from the train, she momentarily lost her footing
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
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
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
-
Even the squirrels in the backyard and the bird that perches on the deck are put on notice.—
Sherri Gordon,
Parents,
10 Feb. 2026
-
The Ringed Kingfisher perches up to 30 feet above the surface, watching for medium-size fish and then plunging in headfirst with a mighty splash.—
Cecilia Rodriguez,
Forbes.com,
18 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The situation quickly spirals out of control, and her life descends into chaos.—
Mia Galuppo,
HollywoodReporter,
4 Feb. 2026
-
The festive horror centers on Gino, whose traditional Italian family Christmas Eve celebration descends into chaos when his deceased grandmother returns from the dead and embarks on a killing spree.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
4 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Still, the resolution lands at a complicated intersection for the city.—
Zachary Bynum,
CBS News,
5 Feb. 2026
-
What happens if yours lands on the leap day?—
Sarah Moore,
Freep.com,
3 Feb. 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
Cite this Entry
“Alights.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/alights. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
