Lightly meaning

What does “lightly” mean? Definitions, examples, synonyms and opposites.

“lightly” is an adverb with 7 meanings. Its most common meaning is: without good reason.

lightly

without good reason
“one cannot say such things lightly”
with few burdens
“experienced travellers travel light”
Synonymslight
with little weight or force
“she kissed him lightly on the forehead”
Synonymssoftly gently
indulging with temperance
“we eat lightly in the morning”
Oppositesheavily
with indifference or without dejection
“he took it lightly”
in a small quantity or extent
“spread the margarine thinly over the meat”
“apply paint lightly”
Synonymsthinly
to a slight degree
“her speech is only lightly accented”

Source: WordNet 3.1, Princeton University