lightly

9 definitions • 14 examples

gently:

She patted him lightly on the shoulder.

He touched me lightly on the cheek.

Dab the paint on lightly.

to only a small degree:

Bake the cookies for 6-8 minutes, or until lightly browned.

Online gambling is only lightly regulated.

Wine labelled "frizzante" is lightly sparkling.

If food is lightly cooked, it is cooked for only a short time:

lightly cooked vegetables

I like eggs lightly cooked so that the yolk is still runny.

If you say something lightly, you are not serious when you say it:

"Anyway, it won't affect me because I'm leaving," she said lightly.

If something is not said or treated lightly, it is said or treated in a serious way, after great thought:

Accusations like these from a top minister are not made lightly.

not trying to attract too much attention or admiration; not being too serious about something:

The book is a marvel of lightly worn scholarship.

Her intelligence is lightly worn.

to be punished or to punish someone less severely than might have been expected:

I think he got off quite lightly considering it's his third driving offence.

without serious consideration:

Funding for public schools is something I don't take lightly.

If food is lightly cooked, it is cooked for only a short time.