light up

phrasal-verb
UK: /ˈlaɪt ʌp/
US: /ˈlaɪt ʌp/

  1. To start to shine or produce light.

    1. The streetlights light up when it gets dark.
    2. The stage will light up when the singer starts to perform their first song.

  2. To make a place brighter with light.

    1. We should light up the garden for the party.
    2. The new decorations will really light up the whole house for Christmas.

  3. To show happiness or excitement in your face or eyes.

    1. Her face will light up when she sees the present.
    2. His eyes seemed to light up when he heard the good news about promotion.

  4. To start smoking a cigarette, cigar, or pipe.

    1. He likes to light up a cigarette after dinner.
    2. I saw him light up outside the building, ignoring the 'No Smoking' sign.

Synonyms

brighten shine ignite excite illuminate

Frequently Asked Questions

The word "light up" in English means: To start to shine or produce light., To make a place brighter with light., To show happiness or excitement in your face or eyes., To start smoking a cigarette, cigar, or pipe..

The phonetic transcription of "light up" is /ˈlaɪt ʌp/ in British English and /ˈlaɪt ʌp/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Synonyms for "light up": brighten, shine, ignite, excite, illuminate.

Example usage of "light up": "The streetlights light up when it gets dark.". More examples on the page.