lightly

[ lahyt-lee ]

adverb

1. with little weight, force, intensity, etc.; gently:

   to press lightly on a door bell.

2. to only a small amount or degree; slightly:

   lightly fried eggs.

3. nimbly; quickly:

   to leap lightly aside.

4. with a lack of concern; indifferently; slightly:

   to think lightly of one's achievements.

5. cheerfully; without complaining:

   to take bad news lightly.

6. without due consideration or reason (often used negatively):

   an offer not to be refused lightly.

7. without trouble or effort; easily:

   Lightly come, lightly go.

8. frivolously; flippantly:

   to behave lightly.

9. airily; buoyantly:

   flags floating lightly.

Word History and Origins

Origin of lightly¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English lightli, Old English lēohtlīce; light ², -ly

Idioms and Phrases

see get off (lightly) ; once over lightly .

Example Sentences

This interview has been lightly edited and condensed for length and clarity.

From Los Angeles Times

Meerun, according to the FTX lawsuit, bought a huge quantity of a lightly traded crypto token, driving its price up by 10,000%, then borrowed tens of millions of dollars from FTX using the token’s inflated value as collateral — even though manipulative trading was against FTX rules.

From Los Angeles Times

This interview has been lightly edited and condensed for clarity.

From Slate

Meanwhile, the New York Times, in a “news” article — I use that term very lightly and broadly — gave us their opinion about a “depressed and demoralized Democratic Party,” which has begun a “painful slog into a largely powerless future.”

From Salon

They’re going for a kind of holiday-themed “Mission: Impossible” or “Jason Bourne” vibe, which is lightly amusing for all of five minutes.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• casually
• delicately
• easily
• faintly
• freely
• gingerly
• mildly
• moderately
• quietly
• simply
• slightly
• softly
• sparsely
• subtly
• tenderly
• thinly