# alight

/əˈɫaɪt/ (US) · /ɐlˈaɪt/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/alight
Updated: 2026-05-18

## Definition

to get off a vehicle, like a bus or a train. It is an old-fashioned way to say you are leaving a moving vehicle.

For teachers: to dismount from or disembark from a vehicle, such as a train or bus. Often used in the passive voice to describe the vehicle stopping at a station.

## Examples

- The passengers began to alight from the bus.
- As the train pulled into the station, several passengers started to alight and grab their luggage.
- The coach came to a gentle halt at the edge of the village, allowing the weary travelers to alight and stretch their legs after the long journey.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.