Word
lighthearted
Phoneticslight·heart·ed, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈɫaɪtˌhɑɹtɪd/
UK/lˈaɪthɑːtɪd/
Definition
adj. having a cheerful and friendly attitude. You use this to describe someone who is not serious or someone who makes others feel relaxed.
adj. characterised by a cheerful, friendly, and easygoing nature. Often used to describe a person's disposition or the tone of a conversation.
Examples
“He has a lighthearted way of looking at life.”
“The meeting started with a lighthearted game to help everyone relax before discussing the serious budget issues.”
“Despite the gravity of the situation, the manager maintained a lighthearted tone to prevent the team from becoming overly anxious about the upcoming merger.”
Examples
simple
“He has a lighthearted way of looking at life.”
contextual
“The meeting started with a lighthearted game to help everyone relax before discussing the serious budget issues.”
complex
“Despite the gravity of the situation, the manager maintained a lighthearted tone to prevent the team from becoming overly anxious about the upcoming merger.”
Real-World Examples
“Image caption, Zheng Ruizhi, 75, shares a lighthearted moment with Wang Yingwei during a home visit.” “The Nottingham Forest attacking midfielder made a lighthearted TikTok video in which he and his fiancee mimed Gotta Go My Own Way from High School Musical 2 as he packed up and headed back.” Etymology
From Middle English lyght hertyd, liȝt-hertid, from light (adjective) + herted, hertid (“having a disposition”, adjective) (equivalent to light + hearted), from the noun herte. See more at light, heart, -ed.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
QR code
englishreference.com/q/lighthearted