Lightning vs Lightening Quiz: Test Yourself
Five quick questions on lightning vs lightening. Pick an answer to get instant feedback.
Flip Cards: Quick Review
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The flash of light during a storm (noun); also “very fast” (adjective).
“A bolt of lightning lit up the sky.”
Making something lighter in color, weight or mood.
“She is lightening her hair for summer.”
The lights in a space, or the way a space is lit.
“The restaurant has warm, soft lighting.”
The verb behind lightening: to make lighter.
“A joke can lighten the mood.”
Lightning vs lightening is a classic mix-up because the two words sound almost identical and differ by a single letter. One describes weather, the other describes making something lighter. Mixing them up can turn a serious storm report into a hair-dye tip. This guide shows what each word means, how to tell them apart, and how to remember the difference for good.
| Term | Meaning | Part of speech / Category | Example sentence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lightning | The flash of light caused by electrical discharge in the atmosphere during a storm | Noun | The lightning struck a tree near the house. |
| Lightning | Extremely fast | Adjective | He fixed my car with lightning speed. |
| Lightening | Making something lighter in color, weight or mood | Verb (present participle of lighten) | Making jokes is his way of lightening the mood. |
| Lighting | The lights in a space, or the way something is lit | Noun | The studio has excellent lighting. |
What does “lightning” mean?
Lightning is the flash of light produced by an electrical discharge during a storm. It can happen inside a single cloud, between two clouds, or between a cloud and the ground. You usually see it just before you hear thunder.
Lightning is a noun, as in “A bolt of lightning lit up the night sky.” It can also work as an adjective meaning extremely fast, as in “lightning speed” or “a lightning visit.” In both uses, the spelling has no “e” after “light.”
What does “lightening” mean?
Lightening is the present participle of the verb lighten, and it means making something lighter. That can be lighter in color, such as lightening your hair or a paint shade. It can also be lighter in weight, such as lightening a heavy backpack.
The word works figuratively too. When someone is lightening the mood, they are making a tense situation feel less heavy. Because lightening is built from “lighten,” you can always spot it by the extra “e” before the “n.”
Lightning vs lightening: how do you choose the right one?
Ask yourself one question: is this about a storm or about making something lighter? If it is about a storm, a flash of light in the sky, or something very fast, use lightning. If you are making something lighter in color, weight or mood, use lightening.
The two words are not interchangeable. You can lighten a room with white paint, but you cannot “lightning” it. And a thunderstorm produces lightning, never “lightening.” The table above summarizes each meaning at a glance.
What about “lighting”?
Lighting is a third look-alike. It refers to the lights in a space or the way a space is lit, as in “stage lighting” or “dim lighting.” It also appears in the verb phrase “lighting a candle.”
Lighting has no connection to storms. If you mean the flash in the sky, you need lightning, with the extra “n” before the “ing.” If you mean illumination from lamps or bulbs, use lighting.
Is Lightning also a brand name?
Yes. When it is capitalized, Lightning is often a name rather than the weather word. Two well-known examples are Apple’s Lightning connector, used on iPhones and iPads, and the Tampa Bay Lightning, an NHL hockey team.
The spelling rule is the same. These names use lightning, not lightening. Writing “Lightening cable” is one of the most common slips online, so double-check it in product pages and reviews.
How can you remember which one to use?
Look for the hidden word. Lightening contains “lighten,” so it always refers to making something lighter. Lightning does not contain “lighten,” so it stays with the storm. The memory tricks below give you a few more shortcuts.
Common mistakes with lightning vs lightening
- ✗ We watched the lightening from the porch.
✓ We watched the lightning from the porch. - ✗ The storm brought thunder and lightening.
✓ The storm brought thunder and lightning. - ✗ She is lightning her hair this summer.
✓ She is lightening her hair this summer. - ✗ He finished the job with lightening speed.
✓ He finished the job with lightning speed. - ✗ Charge your phone with the Lightening cable.
✓ Charge your phone with the Lightning cable.
Memory tricks
- Find “lighten”: lightening contains the word lighten. If you can replace the word with “making lighter,” keep the extra “e.”
- Lightning is fast, so it drops the “e”: a short, quick flash gets a short, quick spelling.
- The swap test: try “making lighter” in your sentence. If it works, write lightening. If the sentence is about a storm or speed, write lightning.
Frequently asked questions
Is it lightning or lightening in a storm?
It is lightning. The flash of light during a storm is spelled lightning, with no “e” after “light.”
What does lightening mean?
Lightening means making something lighter in color, weight or mood. It is the present participle of the verb lighten.
Can lightning be an adjective?
Yes. As an adjective, lightning means extremely fast, as in ‘lightning speed’ or ‘a lightning visit.’
Is lightening a real word?
Yes. Lightening is a real word, but it has nothing to do with storms. It comes from the verb lighten.
What is the difference between lightning and lighting?
Lightning is the electrical flash in a storm. Lighting means the lights in a space or the way a space is lit.
Conclusion
Lightning vs lightening comes down to one question: is it a storm or is something getting lighter? Use lightning for the flash in the sky and for anything very fast, and use lightening when you are making something lighter. Retake the quiz above anytime you need a refresher, and share this with someone who mixes these up.