How to Use Lighted or Lit (Explained, Examples & Quiz)

What's the past tense of "light"?

The past tense of light is lit. The past participle is also lit. Both lit and lighted are correct for the past tense and past participle of light, but lit is more common in modern English.

Definition of light

To light means to make something bright or to set fire to something. It can also mean to provide illumination or to ignite something.

The past tense of light is lit or lighted.
The past participle of light is lit or lighted.

Verb forms of 'light'

Simple Cont. Perfect Perfect Cont.

Present

I/you/they light • He/she/it lights

Past

I/you/they lit • He/she/it lit

Future

I/you/they will light • He/she/it will light

Present

I am/you are lighting • He/she/it is lighting

Past

I was/you were lighting • He/she/it was lighting

Future

I/you will be lighting • He/she/it will be lighting

Present

I/you have lit • He/she/it has lit

Past

I/you had lit • He/she/it had lit

Future

I/you will have lit • He/she/it will have lit

Present

I have been lighting • He/she/it has been lighting

Past

I had been lighting • He/she/it had been lighting

Future

I will have been lighting • He/she/it will have been lighting

Is "light" a regular or irregular verb?

Light is both a regular and irregular verb. It accepts both lit (irregular) and lighted (regular) as its past tense and past participle forms. Lit is more common in modern English, while lighted is often preferred when used as an adjective before a noun.

When to use lit vs lighted

She lit the candles on the birthday cake.

The room was dimly lit by a single bulb.

The verb light uses both lit and lighted for both simple past tense and present or past perfect. Lit is more common for the simple past tense, while lighted is often preferred when used as an adjective before a noun (e.g., "a lighted candle").

Similar irregular verbs

Light follows a pattern where both regular and irregular forms are acceptable. This dual acceptance is characteristic of some English verbs that have evolved over time.

light

Past: lit / lighted

Past part: lit / lighted

Sentence examples: light, lit, lit

Light (present tense)

• I light the candles every evening.

• She lights up the room with her smile.

• They light the fire to stay warm.

Lit (past simple)

• She lit the candles on the birthday cake.

• He lit the fire to stay warm.

• The room was lit by candlelight.

Lit (present or past perfect)

• I have lit the candles for dinner.

• She has lit up every room she entered.

• They have lit the pathway with torches.

Synonyms & nearby words

Synonyms for light

illuminate brighten ignite kindle spark enlighten

Nearby phrases

light up light a fire light the way come to light see the light

FAQs

What is the past tense of "light"?

Both "lit" and "lighted" are correct past tenses of "light." "Lit" is more common, while "lighted" is often used as an adjective before a noun (e.g., "a lighted candle").

Is "litted" ever correct?

No, "litted" is not a correct word. The correct past tense and past participle forms are "lit" or "lighted."

Is "light" a regular verb?

It is both. It has a regular past tense form ("lighted") and an irregular one ("lit"). Both are considered correct in modern English.

When should I use "lighted" vs. "lit"?

"Lit" is the more common choice for the simple past tense (He lit the fire). "Lighted" is often preferred when used as an adjective before a noun (a brightly lighted room), though "lit" is also correct here.

Can I use both "lit" and "lighted" in the same text?

Yes, both forms are correct. However, for consistency in formal writing, it's often best to choose one form and stick with it throughout your text.

Sources

Harper, Douglas. "Etymology of light." Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com/word/light. Accessed 7 August, 2024.
"Light, V." Oxford English Dictionary, Oxford UP, March 2025, https://doi.org/10.1093/OED/1199038215.