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 pleasureHis 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 annual Lyrids Meteor Shower is set to light up the skies over the next week, as stargazers are encouraged to look up.
—
Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Apr. 2025
The lights go down, the candles light up, and Jonah chants the portion in its original text in Hebrew.
—Leah Abrams, Them., 17 Apr. 2025
Viral social media posts from K-pop’s elite helped light up spicy Buldak instant noodles sales, and secured their creator Kim Jung-soo’s spot on Korea’s 50 Richest list for 2025.
—Sarah Whitmire, Forbes.com, 16 Apr. 2025
Colorful auroras may light up the sky tonight in parts of the US, spanning from Oregon to the Midwest.
—Morgan Severson, CNN Money, 16 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for light up
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Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Apr. 2025
The lights go down, the candles light up, and Jonah chants the portion in its original text in Hebrew.
—Leah Abrams, Them., 17 Apr. 2025
Viral social media posts from K-pop’s elite helped light up spicy Buldak instant noodles sales, and secured their creator Kim Jung-soo’s spot on Korea’s 50 Richest list for 2025.
—Sarah Whitmire, Forbes.com, 16 Apr. 2025
Colorful auroras may light up the sky tonight in parts of the US, spanning from Oregon to the Midwest.
—Morgan Severson, CNN Money, 16 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for light up
Cite this Entry
“Light up.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/light%20up. Accessed 24 Apr. 2025.
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