lighting

American  

[lahy-ting] / ˈlaɪ tɪŋ /

noun

lightings plural

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

Derived Forms

• self-lighting
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• lightings
  plural

Etymology

Origin of lighting

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

Example Sentences

Adjacent to the cooking space is the dining room, which features modern overhead lighting and enough space for a large table.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 29, 2026

In addition to changing the lighting and painting the walls, Miranda-Martin prioritized the window treatments, with pinch pleat curtains from Ikea.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 26, 2026

Fears about a diluted field and uncompetitive games have been replaced by a goalfest of a group stage, with all the major stars lighting it up.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 25, 2026

It said "lighting any kind of fire in the forest or at the edge of the forest is only permitted at designated fire pits".

From BBC • Jun. 23, 2026

Unlike the hazmats, my movements do not depend on whether or not the sun is lighting up the sky.

From "A Rover's Story" by Jasmine Warga