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

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

And at night, Sunset Seasons Greetings projections light up the Hollywood Tower Hotel. —Eve Chen, USA TODAY, 1 Nov. 2024

Annual tree lighting ceremony Nov. 29 For the past 40 years, hundreds of Portlanders have gathered in Pioneer Courthouse Square on the day after Thanksgiving to watch a massive Douglas fir light up for the season. —Meira Gebel, Axios, 1 Nov. 2024

Grandpa loves it, and the grandkids absolutely light up with excitement when the heart spins, knowing a message from Grandpa is waiting for them. —Jake Henry Smith, Glamour, 25 Oct. 2024