light up

phrasal verb

1

of a light : to become lit : to begin shining

All of the lights on the display suddenly lit up.

—often used figuratively to express interest or pleasure

His eyes/face lit up when she walked in the room.

2

informal, of a telephone : to show a light indicating that someone is calling

When the DJ announced a contest, the phones lit up.

3

informal : to light a cigarette

I can't wait to light up after work.

Examples of light up in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Time to light up and wait for the big hand to come out of the ground and smash us all. —Bethy Squires, Vulture, 6 Nov. 2024

Your giftee will light up one of these holiday classics—Sapin (Pine Tree), Friandise (Treat), and Étoile (Star)—within minutes of opening them. —Annie Blackman, Allure, 5 Nov. 2024

Big amplitudes mean highly probable subatomic events, the kind that light up particle detectors like Christmas trees. —Charlie Wood, WIRED, 3 Nov. 2024

The short trip up to Marinid Tombs is a must, particularly at sunset to get a sense of the city as a whole and watch the sun light up the fields and mountains nearby. —Elle Benson Easton, Travel + Leisure, 2 Nov. 2024