lighting

American  

[lahy-ting] / ˈlaɪ tɪŋ /

noun

1. the act of igniting or illuminating.

   the lighting of many candles; the annual lighting of the Christmas tree.

2. the arrangement of lights to achieve particular effects.

   to work out the lighting for one's living room.

3. an effect achieved by the arrangement of lights.

   Several critics praised the lighting of the play.

4. the science, theory, or method of achieving particular effects by the use of lights.

5. the way light falls upon a face, object, etc., especially in a picture.

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lighting British  

/ ˈlaɪtɪŋ /

noun

1. the act or quality of illumination or ignition

2. the apparatus for supplying artificial light effects to a stage, film, or television set

3. the distribution of light on an object or figure, as in painting, photography, etc

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Other Word Forms

• self-lighting adjective

Etymology

Origin of lighting

First recorded before 1000; Middle English lightinge, Old English līhting; equivalent to light ¹ + -ing ¹

Example Sentences

Never underestimate the joys of a good mattress and flattering indoor lighting.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 17, 2026

Liu first encountered TheSoloist speaker a few years ago at the home of a friend, a lighting designer working in music who he admired.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 17, 2026

There are typically two problems with hotel lighting, no matter how much you’re paying per night.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 15, 2026

Guests enter via a descending ramp, accompanied by lighting effects and smoke, while hidden sound features add unexpected moments of surprise.

From BBC • Apr. 14, 2026

She had come flying from the top of a yellow train car, the waning sun lighting her up like a stained-glass window.

From "Witchlings" by Claribel A. Ortega