- a flash, or several flashes, of very bright light in the sky caused by electricity
- a flash of lightning
- a violent storm with thunder and lightning
- He was struck by lightning and killed.
- Lightning strikes caused scores of fires across the state.
Collocations The weatherThe weatherGood weathersee also forked lightning, heat lightning, sheet lightning- be bathed in/bask in/be blessed with/enjoy bright/brilliant/glorious sunshine
- the sun shines/warms something/beats down (on something)
- the sunshine breaks/streams through something
- fluffy/wispy clouds drift across the sky
- a gentle/light/stiff/cool/warm/sea breeze blows in/comes in off the sea
- the snow crunches beneath/under somebody’s feet/boots
- thick/dark/storm clouds form/gather/roll in/cover the sky/block out the sun
- the sky darkens/turns black
- a fine mist hangs in the air
- a dense/heavy/thick fog rolls in
- the rain falls/comes down (in buckets/sheets)/pours down
- snow falls/comes down/covers something
- the wind blows/whistles/howls/picks up/whips through something/sweeps across something
- strong/gale-force winds blow/gust (up to 80 mph)
- a storm is approaching/is moving inland/hits/strikes/rages
- thunder rolls/rumbles/sounds
- (forked/sheet) lightning strikes/hits/flashes
- a (blinding/snow) blizzard hits/strikes/blows/rages
- a tornado touches down/hits/strikes/destroys something/rips through something
- forecast/expect/predict rain/snow/a category-four hurricane
- (North American English) pour (down)/ (British English) pour (down) with rain
- get caught in/seek shelter from/escape the rain
- be covered/shrouded in mist/a blanket of fog
- be in for/brave/shelter from a/the storm
- hear rolling/distant thunder
- be battered/buffeted by strong winds
- (British English) be blowing a gale
- battle against/brave the elements
- the sun breaks through the clouds
- the sky clears/brightens (up)/lightens (up)
- the clouds part/clear
- the rain stops/lets up/holds off
- the wind dies down
- the storm passes
- the mist/fog lifts/clears
Extra ExamplesTopics Weatherb1- Lightning flickered across the sky.
- Lightning flashed outside.
- Lightning hit the tree.
- Lightning lit up the night sky.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- ball
- forked
- sheet
- …
- bolt
- flash
- streak
- …
- flash
- illuminate something
- light something
- …
- bolt
- flash
- storm
- …
- thunder and lightning
Word OriginMiddle English: special use of lightening (verbal noun from lighten in the sense ‘to become lighter’ or ‘brighter’).Want to learn more?
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Idioms
See lightning in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee lightning in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic Englishlightning never strikes (in the same place) twice
- (saying) an unusual or unpleasant event is not likely to happen in the same place or to the same people twice
like (greased) lightning
- very fast
- He leapt out of the car like lightning.
- She jumped out of the car like greased lightning.
Check pronunciation:
lightning