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

These storms trigger interactions between the Earth’s magnetic field and charged particles from the sun, resulting in the stunning colors that light up the sky. —Valerie Mesa, People.com, 14 Feb. 2025

This testament of love includes gardens that light up during the spring and autumn. —Gulnaz Khan, AFAR Media, 13 Feb. 2025

So, light up, relax, and enjoy the day with your favorite person—this is your time to get creative, get cozy, and have a blast. —Matt Rozo, The Mercury News, 11 Feb. 2025

Firefighter rigs will light up and candles will be lit to remember firefighters and those in emergency medical services and dispatches services who took their own lives – and for the families who suffered the tragic loss. —Josh Peter, USA TODAY, 23 Jan. 2025