lighting

IPA/ˈlaɪtɪŋ/
KK[lˈaɪtɪŋ]IPA/ˈlaɪtɪŋ/

lighting — noun

1. the system of artificial lights in an indoor space, including how they are place

1.nounB1
Definition

the system of artificial lights in an indoor space, including how they are placed and how bright or soft the light is

Example

The kitchen lighting was too dim for reading recipes at night.

collocation: dim/bright/soft lighting

Walid hired a designer to improve the lighting in his living room.

Common collocations
  • dim lighting
  • soft lighting
  • harsh lighting
  • good lighting
  • poor lighting
  • ambient lighting
  • stage lighting
  • natural lighting
  • task lighting
  • indoor lighting
Synonyms
  • illumination

    more formal and technical; often used in design or engineering contexts

  • lights

    more concrete and colloquial; refers to the physical light sources rather than the overall system

Antonyms
  • darkness

    absence of any light

  • dimness

    very low level of light, the opposite of good lighting

Usage Note

Frequently modified by adjectives describing brightness or quality, such as dim, soft, harsh, good, poor, or ambient.

Common Mistakes

The lighting in here is very lightly.
The lighting in here is very bright.
Lighting is a noun, not an adjective; describe it with adjectives like bright or dim.
There is not enough lightning in this room.
There is not enough lighting in this room.
Lightning (with 'n') means the flash during a storm; lighting is the artificial light indoors.

2. the action of making something start to burn, either on purpose or by accident

2.nounB2
Definition

the action of making something start to burn, either on purpose or by accident

Example

The lighting of the campfire took longer than expected because the wood was wet.

pattern: lighting + of + [thing set on fire]

Strict local rules control the lighting of bonfires near residential areas.

formal/written register

Common collocations
  • lighting of a fire
  • lighting of a candle
  • lighting of a match
  • lighting of a bonfire
  • lighting of a grill
Synonyms
  • ignition

    more technical; used for engines, furnaces, or scientific contexts

  • kindling

    specific to campfires or small controlled fires; also refers to the material used

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

lighting + of + [thing set on fire]

Usage Note

Typically followed by 'of + noun' to specify what is being set on fire. This sense is more common in formal or written English; in everyday speech the verb form 'to light' is preferred.

Common Mistakes

The lighting of the room was dark.' (meaning the room was poorly lit)
The lighting of the candle was quick with a long match.
These two senses of lighting are easy to confuse. Make sure the object is something that burns (a fire, a candle, a match).

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Lighting is the most general and practical word for how light is arranged in a space. Illumination is more technical and formal — an engineer might discuss 'illumination levels in a workspace,' but a homeowner talks about 'living room lighting.' Lights is the everyday plural noun for the physical fixtures themselves ('turn the lights on'), not the overall design. Lighting system is a broader term that includes the wiring, switches, and fixtures as a whole; it is used when installing or planning a setup. For everyday conversation about the look or feel of a room, lighting is the natural choice: 'The soft lighting in the café made it a great place to read.' For technical specifications, use illumination: 'The building's illumination meets international safety standards.'

lighting ↗illumination ↗lights ↗lighting system

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

  • lighting conditions
  • lighting fixture
  • lighting design

Prepositions

Etymology

Proto-Indo-EuropeanProto-GermanicOld EnglishEnglish

Lighting is the noun form of the verb light, which comes from Old English lihtan (to make bright or to shine). The root goes back to Proto-Germanic *leuhtą and further to Proto-Indo-European *lewk-, meaning 'to shine' or 'bright.' The first sense (arrangement of artificial light) appeared in the 1600s. The second sense (setting on fire) developed from the same verb light, which has also meant 'to ignite' since Old English times.