: 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
Listen to this article On a recent chilly morning, the Lake County Sheriff’s new Marine 1 boat was bobbing lightly with the water along a dock at the East Chicago Marina.
—Alexandra Kukulka, Chicago Tribune, 25 May 2025
The packed snow was hard and clean, lightly dusted over.
—Louise Erdrich, New Yorker, 25 May 2025
An elliptical void was worked into the building’s layout to account for its upper branches, which now lightly shades the pool on that level.
—Lily Templeton, Footwear News, 24 May 2025
Rubber outsoles provide traction for tearing up the dance floor at a wedding or heading out for a day of seeing tourist attractions, and lightly padded insoles cushion your feet with every step.
—Merrell Readman, Travel + Leisure, 23 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for lightly
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Alexandra Kukulka, Chicago Tribune, 25 May 2025
The packed snow was hard and clean, lightly dusted over.
—Louise Erdrich, New Yorker, 25 May 2025
An elliptical void was worked into the building’s layout to account for its upper branches, which now lightly shades the pool on that level.
—Lily Templeton, Footwear News, 24 May 2025
Rubber outsoles provide traction for tearing up the dance floor at a wedding or heading out for a day of seeing tourist attractions, and lightly padded insoles cushion your feet with every step.
—Merrell Readman, Travel + Leisure, 23 May 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 4 Jun. 2025.
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