Lighted vs. Lit — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on October 12, 2023
Lighted and Lit both refer to the past tense of "light", with Lighted often used as an adjective and Lit as both an adjective and a verb, though their usage can overlap.
Difference Between Lighted and Lit
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Lighted and Lit both serve as the past tense and past participle of the verb "light". While both can be interchangeably used in many contexts, there are certain nuances in their applications. Lighted often feels more formal and is commonly found in written English or structured speech. Lit, being slightly more colloquial, is frequently encountered in everyday conversation.
In descriptive scenarios, Lighted typically appears as an adjective. For instance, one might refer to a "lighted candle" or a "lighted room". Lit, while it can also be used adjectivally, such as in "lit candle", is more often utilized as a verb, suggesting the action of illumination, like "He lit the fire".
Historically, Lighted held prominence in American English, but over time, Lit has gained traction, especially in spoken language. However, when pertaining to devices or instruments, Lighted remains the more favored term, as in "lighted match" or "lighted torch". Lit, in contrast, leans more towards natural or spontaneous sources of light, like "The sky lit up with fireworks".
It's important to note, however, that regional preferences and stylistic choices can influence the selection between Lighted and Lit. While some might argue for the dominance of one over the other in particular scenarios, both forms are grammatically correct and widely accepted in modern English.
Comparison Chart
Grammatical Role
Often used as an adjective.
Used as both an adjective and a verb.
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Common Usage
More formal, prevalent in written English.
More colloquial, common in spoken language.
Descriptive Nature
"Lighted room", "Lighted torch".
"Lit candle", "The fire was lit".
Historical Preference
Was traditionally favored in American English.
Has gained more recent popularity.
Associations
Associated with devices or instruments.
Associated with spontaneous or natural sources of light.
Compare with Definitions
Lighted
Illuminated by or as if by light.
The lighted pathway led us to the garden.
Lit
Past tense of the verb "light", meaning to start a fire.
She lit the fireplace to warm the room.
Lighted
Provided with artificial light.
The stadium was lighted for the night match.
Lit
Set on fire.
He lit the paper and watched it burn.
Lighted
Brightened with light or color.
The room was lighted by colorful lanterns.
Lit
Past and past participle of light, light
Lighted
Provided with light or lighting; illuminated
Lighted tennis courts
Lit
Provided with light or lighting; illuminated
Leaving the safety of a lit street
A lit window at dusk
Lighted
Having been ignited; burning
A lighted candle
Lit
Having been ignited; burning
A lit cigarette
Lighted
Electromagnetic radiation that is visible, perceivable by the normal human eye as colors between red and violet, having frequencies between 400 terahertz and 790 terahertz and wavelengths between 750 nanometers and 380 nanometers. Also called visible light.
Lit
Drunk.
Lighted
Electromagnetic radiation of any frequency or wavelength.
Lit
Short for literature
Chick lit
Lighted
The sensation of perceiving light; brightness
A sudden light that made me blink.
Lit
A past tense and a past participle of light1. See Usage Note at light1.
Lighted
A source of light, especially a lamp, a lantern, or an electric lighting fixture
Turn out the lights when you leave.
Lit
A past tense and a past participle of light1.
Lighted
The illumination derived from a source of light
By the light of the moon.
Lit
Informal. Drunk or drugged. Often used with up.
Lighted
The particular quantity or quality of such illumination
Moved the lamp closer to get better light.
Lit
Literature, especially as an academic subject
Enjoyed my course in French lit.
Lighted
The pathway or route of such illumination to a person
You're standing in his light.
Lit
Simple past tense and past participle of light||illuminate; start a fire; etc
Lighted
A source of fire, such as a match or cigarette lighter.
Lit
Simple past tense and past participle of light||alight: land, come down on
Lighted
A mechanical device that uses illumination as a signal or warning, especially a beacon or traffic signal.
Lit
To run or light (alight).
Lighted
Daylight.
Lit
(transitive) To colour; dye.
Lighted
Dawn; daybreak.
Lit
Illuminated.
He walked down the lit corridor.
Lighted
Something, such as a window, that admits illumination.
Lit
(slang) Intoxicated or under the influence of drugs.
Lighted
(Architecture) One of two or more openings in a window divided by a mullion or mullions.
Lit
(slang) Sexually aroused (usually of a female), especially visibly sexually aroused.
Lighted
Something that provides information or clarification
Research that produced little new light on the question.
Lit
(slang) Exciting, captivating; fun.
This party is gonna be lit.
Lighted
A state of awareness or understanding, especially as derived from a particular source
In the light of experience.
Lit
(slang) Excellent, fantastic; cool.
Those jeans are lit.
Lighted
Public attention; general knowledge
Brought the scandal to light.
Lit
(obsolete) Little.
Lighted
Spiritual awareness; illumination.
Lit
(obsolete) Little.
Lighted
A way of looking at or considering a matter; an aspect
Saw the situation in a different light.
Lit
Colour; blee; dye; stain.
Lighted
(Archaic) Eyesight.
Lit
Clipping of literature
Do we have any lit homework tonight?
Lighted
Lights One's individual opinions, choices, or standards
Acted according to their own lights.
Lit
The humanistic study of a body of literature;
He took a course in Russian lit
Lighted
A person who inspires or is adored by another
My daughter is the light of my life.
Lit
Provided with artificial light;
Illuminated advertising
Looked up at the lighted windows
A brightly lit room
A well-lighted stairwell
Lighted
A prominent or distinguished person; a luminary
One of the leading lights of the theater.
Lit
Set afire or burning;
The lighted candles
A lighted cigarette
A lit firecracker
Lighted
An expression of the eyes
A strange light in her eyes.
Lit
Glowing or shining, as if with light.
His eyes lit up when he saw her.
Lighted
Lights Pieces of laundry that are not dark in color.
Lit
Slang term meaning excellent or exciting.
The party last night was totally lit!
Lighted
Light In Quaker doctrine, the guiding spirit or divine presence in each person.
Lighted
To set on fire; ignite or kindle
Lit the kindling.
Lighted
To cause to give out light; make luminous
Lit a lamp.
Lighted
To provide, cover, or fill with light; illuminate
Fireworks lighting the sky.
Lighted
To signal, direct, or guide with light
"You'd ... set the lamp in the dormer window to light him home through the storm" (Edith Nesbit).
Lighted
To enliven or animate
A smile lit her face.
Lighted
To start to burn; be ignited or kindled
Green wood does not light easily.
Lighted
To emit light; be lighted
Wait until the indicator lights up.
Lighted
To get down, as from a vehicle or horse; dismount.
Lighted
To descend to the ground after flight; land.
Lighted
To come upon one unexpectedly
Misfortune lighted upon him.
Lighted
To come upon by chance or accident. Used with on or upon
Lit on the perfect solution to the problem.
Lighted
Having a greater rather than lesser degree of lightness.
Lighted
Of or being an additive primary color.
Lighted
Characterized by or filled with light; bright
A room that is light when the shutters are open.
Lighted
Not dark in color; fair
Light hair and skin.
Lighted
Served with milk or cream. Used of coffee.
Lighted
Of relatively little weight; not heavy
A light load.
Lighted
Of relatively little weight for its size or bulk
Balsa is a light wood.
Lighted
Of less than the correct, standard, or legal weight
A light pound.
Lighted
Designed for ease and quickness of movement; having a structure that is slim and has little weight for its type or class
Light aircraft.
Lighted
Designed to carry relatively little weight
Light trucks.
Lighted
Carrying little equipment or armament
Light cavalry.
Lighted
Requiring relatively little equipment and using relatively simple processes to produce consumer goods
Light industry.
Lighted
Exerting little force or impact; gentle
A light pat.
Lighted
Indistinct; faint
Light print that I could barely make out.
Lighted
Low in quantity or intensity
Light traffic.
Light snow.
Lighted
Consuming or using relatively moderate amounts; abstemious
A light eater.
A light smoker.
Lighted
Not harsh or severe
Gave the offender a light sentence.
Lighted
Moving easily and quickly; nimble
You're very light on your feet.
Lighted
Easy to perform or accomplish; requiring little effort
Light chores.
Lighted
Easy to bear or endure
A light tax.
Lighted
Having little importance; insignificant
Light conversation.
Lighted
Intended primarily as entertainment and lacking serious or weighty content
A light comedy.
Lighted
Not solemn or serious
Spoke in a light manner of the situation.
Lighted
Free from worries or troubles; blithe
A light heart.
Lighted
Mildly dizzy or faint
Felt light in the head.
Lighted
Easily awakened or disturbed
A light sleeper.
Lighted
Easily digested
A light supper.
Lighted
Containing a relatively small amount of a potentially harmful ingredient, such as alcohol, fat, or sodium
Light beer.
Light mayonnaise.
Lighted
Having a spongy or flaky texture; well-leavened
Light pastries.
Lighted
Having a loose, porous consistency
Light soil.
Lighted
Of, relating to, or being a syllable ending in a short vowel or a short vowel plus a consonant.
Lighted
Of, relating to, or being a vowel or syllable pronounced with little or no stress.
Lighted
In a light manner; lightly.
Lighted
With little weight and few burdens
Traveling light.
Lighted
Simple past tense and past participle of light
Lighted
Filled with light; illuminated.
Lighted
Set afire or burning.
Lighted
Illuminated by artificial light; as, lighted by a high-powered searchligh.
Lighted
Set afire or burning;
The lighted candles
A lighted cigarette
A lit firecracker
Lighted
Provided with artificial light;
Illuminated advertising
Looked up at the lighted windows
A brightly lit room
A well-lighted stairwell
Lighted
Set on fire.
He lighted the wood, and soon a fire was blazing.
Lighted
Made clear or visible.
Her face lighted up with joy.
Common Curiosities
Are both Lighted and Lit grammatically correct?
Yes, both Lighted and Lit are grammatically correct and serve as past tense forms of "light".
Is Lit always the preferred choice in spoken language?
While Lit is commonly used in conversation, both terms are acceptable in spoken English.
Can Lighted and Lit be used interchangeably?
Often they can, but there are nuances in their usage, with Lighted being more formal and Lit more colloquial.
Does Lighted have an adverbial form?
Yes, "lightedly" can be used, though it's rare. Lit doesn't have an equivalent adverbial form.
How does British English treat Lighted and Lit?
British English also accepts both, but like American English, there might be nuanced preferences based on context and tradition.
Would "lighted up" be correct to use?
While grammatically possible, the common phrase is "lit up".
Can you provide an example where Lighted seems more appropriate than Lit?
"The lighted match" feels more natural than "the lit match".
In what context would Lit seem out of place?
In formal writing or when referring to devices, "lighted" might be preferred over "lit".
Is there a modern slang connotation to the term Lit?
Yes, in modern slang, Lit can mean "exciting" or "excellent", especially describing events or parties.
Is one term older than the other?
Both have old origins, but historically, Lighted was more prevalent in American English.
Can you say "The candle lighted the room"?
While grammatically correct, it's more conventional to say "The candle lit the room".
Can Lit describe someone's facial expression?
Yes, as in "His eyes lit up with excitement."
Do all English dictionaries include both Lighted and Lit?
Most modern dictionaries include both terms, highlighting their different usages and contexts.
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Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
