1
: the flashing of light produced by a discharge of atmospheric electricity
also
: the discharge itself
2
: a sudden stroke of fortune
candidates … hoping for real lightning to strike—
Time
Time
: having or moving with or as if with the speed and suddenness of lightning
a lightning assault
Synonyms
Examples of lightning in a Sentence
Adjective
thoughts moving at lightning speed
he made a lightning dash for the goal
Recent Examples on the WebStar-Telegram Bot, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 26 Apr. 2024
Michael Hiltzik: The UAW sends a lightning bolt into anti-union states with a huge victory at a VW plant.
—Ryan Fonseca, Los Angeles Times, 23 Apr. 2024
See all Example Sentences for lightning 
Noun
Here are recommendations for maintaining safety during a thunderstorm:
• To minimize risk of being struck by lightning, when going outside, have a plan to get to a safer place.
—Star-Telegram Bot, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 26 Apr. 2024
Michael Hiltzik: The UAW sends a lightning bolt into anti-union states with a huge victory at a VW plant.
—Ryan Fonseca, Los Angeles Times, 23 Apr. 2024
See all Example Sentences for lightning
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'lightning.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near lightning
Cite this Entry
“Lightning.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lightning. Accessed 4 May. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
lightning
1 of 2 noun
light·ning
ˈlīt-niŋ 
: the flashing of light produced by a discharge of atmospheric electricity from one cloud to another or between a cloud and the earth
also
: the discharge itself
lightning
2 of 2 adjective
: moving or done with or as if with the speed of lightning
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