light-footed

IPA/ˌlaɪt ˈfʊtɪd/
IPA/ˌlaɪt ˈfʊtɪd/

light-footed — adjective

1. moving in a quick, smooth way that looks attractive and effortless — like a danc

1.adjectiveB2
Definition

moving in a quick, smooth way that looks attractive and effortless — like a dancer gliding across a stage or someone walking softly without making noise.

Example

Defne felt light-footed as she danced across the wooden stage at the talent show.

light-footed describing dancing movement

The light-footed cat jumped from the fence onto the roof without making a sound.

Common collocations
  • light-footed steps
  • light-footed dancer
  • light-footed runner
  • light-footed grace
  • light-footed cat
Synonyms
  • nimble

    emphasises quick, controlled movement rather than graceful lightness

  • agile

    focuses on the ability to change direction and move easily, often used for sports

  • graceful

    highlights the attractive quality of the movement more than the speed

  • sprightly

    suggests cheerful energy, mainly used for older people moving well

Antonyms
  • heavy-footed

    opposite in both speed and grace, suggesting clumsy or loud steps

  • clumsy

    broader term for awkward movement, not specific to walking

Usage Note

Often used in descriptive or literary writing to convey a positive impression of someone's way of moving. The compound pattern (light + footed) also appears in other words such as heavy-footed, sure-footed, and flat-footed.

Word family

  • light-footedness
    nounC1
  • light-footedly
    adverbC2

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

All four words describe ease of movement, but each highlights a different aspect. Nimble suggests quick, precise motions — ideal for someone sewing or typing fast. Agile focuses on the ability to bend, twist, and change direction, often used for gymnasts or football players. Graceful emphasises the visual beauty of the movement rather than its speed. Sprightly is more specific: it describes an older person who moves with unexpected energy and cheerfulness. Light-footed combines quickness and smoothness, with a soft, near-silent quality that the others lack. For example, a dancer is light-footed on stage (quiet and flowing), but a goalkeeper is agile (fast, reactive), not necessarily light-footed.

nimble ↗agile ↗graceful ↗sprightly ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Etymology

Old EnglishEnglish

Light-footed is a compound adjective formed from Old English leoht (not heavy) and fōt (foot), combined with the suffix -ed meaning 'having'. The word has been used since the 1500s to describe someone or something that moves with a light, springy step.

First known use

15th century

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1