Look-alike words

Lightening vs. Lightning

Lightning is the flash of electricity in the sky during a storm. Lightening is a form of the verb lighten, meaning making something lighter in weight or color. Lightning struck the tree; we're lightening our suitcases.

Word	Part of speech	Meaning
lightening	verb	making something lighter in weight, color or mood; a form of the verb lighten
lightning	noun	a bright flash of light in the sky caused by electricity during a storm
lightning	adjective	very fast or sudden, like a flash in the sky

Lightening

verb: making something lighter in weight, color or mood; a form of the verb lighten

We are lightening the load by leaving the camping chairs at home.
The sky was lightening as the sun came up over the hills.

Lightning

noun: a bright flash of light in the sky caused by electricity during a storm

Lightning lit up the whole valley during the storm.
Never stand under a tall tree when there is lightning nearby.

adjective: very fast or sudden, like a flash in the sky

The quiz show ended with a lightning round of ten questions.
The fox made a lightning dash across the road.

How to remember the difference

Lightning has no E: a flash is too quick to stop for an extra letter. Lightening keeps the E because it comes from lighten.

Good to know

Lightning bug is a common American name for a firefly. Lightening also shows up with hair and skin products that make color paler.

Spot the mistake

We counted the seconds between the ~~lightening~~ lightning and the thunder.
Correct: We counted the seconds between the lightning and the thunder.
Moving the books to the shelf is ~~lightning~~ lightening my backpack a lot.
Correct: Moving the books to the shelf is lightening my backpack a lot.

Check yourself

Pick the word that fits each sentence.

1. The was so close that the thunder came right away.

2. She is her hair for the summer.