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lightning

C1
UK/ˈlaɪt.nɪŋ/US/ˈlaɪt.nɪŋ/

neutral

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Definition

Meaning

A natural electrical discharge of very short duration and high voltage between a cloud and the ground or within a cloud, accompanied by a bright flash and thunder.

A sudden, powerful, and rapidly moving occurrence, or something extremely fast, brilliant, or powerful.

Linguistics

Semantic Notes

Primarily a noun. The related adjective 'lightning' (e.g., lightning speed) is an attributive-only adjective, never predicative (we say 'It was as fast as lightning' not 'It was lightning'). Distinct from the verb 'lighten' (to make less heavy) or the present participle 'lightning' (which is not standard for 'making lighter').

Dialectal Variation

British vs American Usage

Differences

Virtually identical in core meaning and usage. Minor spelling variations in some compounds (e.g., 'lightning conductor' UK, 'lightning rod' US more common).

Connotations

Identical connotations of speed, power, and suddenness in both varieties.

Frequency

Equal frequency in both dialects.

Vocabulary

Collocations

strong
forked lightningball lightningsheet lightninglightning strikelightning boltlightning speed
medium
flash of lightningcrack of lightninglike lightninglightning stormstruck by lightning
weak
distant lightningheat lightningviolent lightningsummer lightning

Grammar

Valency Patterns

N + V: lightning flashed/struck/forkedV + N: see/watch lightningPREP + N: during/after the lightning

Vocabulary

Synonyms

Strong

boltfulmination (literary/technical)

Neutral

electrical dischargethunderbolt

Weak

flashstreak (in similes)

Vocabulary

Antonyms

stillnessslownesscalm

Phrases

Idioms & Phrases

  • “lightning never strikes twice (in the same place)”
  • “greased lightning”
  • “like a lightning rod (for something)”
  • “quick as lightning”

Usage

Context Usage

Business

Metaphor for speed: 'We need lightning-fast delivery to compete.'

Academic

In meteorology/physics: 'The mechanism of cloud-to-ground lightning formation.'

Everyday

Describing weather or extreme speed: 'The lightning last night was incredible!' or 'She moved like lightning.'

Technical

In electrical engineering: 'The tower is protected from lightning surges.'

Examples

By Part of Speech

verb

British English

  • It is lightening outside; the storm is passing. (Note: This is the verb 'lighten', not 'lightning').

American English

  • (The verb form 'to lightning' is archaic/poetic and not used in modern standard English.)

adverb

British English

  • (Not standard; 'like lightning' is the adverbial phrase) He ran like lightning.

American English

  • (Not standard; 'like lightning' is the adverbial phrase) The news spread like lightning.

adjective

British English

  • The goalkeeper made a lightning save.
  • They conducted a lightning raid.

American English

  • She has lightning reflexes.
  • The company was known for its lightning turnaround times.

Examples

By CEFR Level

A2
  • Look! There's lightning in the sky!
  • The lightning was very bright.
B1
  • We saw a big flash of lightning during the storm.
  • He ran as fast as lightning to catch the bus.
B2
  • The old tree was split in two by a lightning strike.
  • Her promotion was a lightning rise through the company ranks.
C1
  • The negotiator acted with lightning speed to defuse the crisis.
  • The theory posits that ball lightning is a plasma phenomenon.

Learning

Memory Aids

Mnemonic

The word is spelled LIGHT + NING. Remember: It's the 'ning' that brings the 'zing' during a storm.

Conceptual Metaphor

SPEED IS LIGHTNING ('lightning-fast'), SUDDEN INSIGHT/EVENT IS LIGHTNING ('a lightning realization'), ATTRACTION/CONFLICT IS LIGHTNING ('lightning rod for criticism').

Watch out

Common Pitfalls

Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)

  • Do not confuse 'lightning' (молния) with 'lightening' (осветление/облегчение).
  • The adjective 'lightning' (молниеносный) is only used before a noun: 'lightning attack'. In Russian, 'молния' can also mean 'zipper'—this is a false friend; in English, a zip/zipper.

Common Mistakes

  • Misspelling as 'lightening'.
  • Using the adjective predicatively: ✗'His reaction was lightning.' ✓'His reaction was lightning-fast.'
  • Confusing 'thunder' (sound) with 'lightning' (light).

Practice

Quiz

Fill in the gap
During the hike, a sudden flash illuminated the entire valley, followed seconds later by thunder.
Multiple Choice

Which of the following uses of 'lightning' is grammatically correct?

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

'Lightning' is the electrical discharge in a storm. 'Lightening' is the present participle of the verb 'to lighten', meaning to make lighter in weight or colour.

In modern standard English, no. The archaic/poetic verb 'to lightning' (meaning to flash like lightning) is obsolete. The verb you hear in weather reports is 'to lighten' (as in 'it's lightening outside').

Both are used. 'Lightning-fast' with a hyphen is the standard adjectival compound (a lightning-fast car). 'Lightning fast' is often used adverbially (He moved lightning fast).

It's a proverb meaning an unusual or disastrous event is unlikely to happen again to the same person or in the same place. It's based on the perceived statistical improbability, though in reality lightning can strike the same spot multiple times.

Collections

Part of a collection

Weather

A2 · 45 words · Describing the weather, climate and seasons.

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