alights

Gets off gently

Alights means lands or comes to rest after flight: A butterfly alights on the flower.

Birds alight on branches, passengers alight from trains or buses.

The word carries a light, delicate quality—things that alight touch down gently rather than crash.

Less commonly, alights means catches fire or lights up: Her face alights with joy.

landing

descends

Moves downward

touches downArrives on ground
settlesComes to rest
perchesElevated resting spots

lands · dismounts · comes down · drops · arrives · rests · sets down · stops · halts · debarks

bird

perches

Elevated resting spots

roostsResting spots for fowl
settlesComes to rest
landsComes to ground

nests · rests · feathers · descends · sits · lodges · tree limb · wire · bough · eaves

illuminates

glows

Emits soft light

brightensMakes lighter or cheerier
shinesEmits or reflects radiance
blazesIntense, spreading fires

gleams · sparkles · radiates · flickers · kindles · ignites · flames · beams · dazzles · flashes

transit

disembarks

Exits a vehicle

steps offDescends to exit
exitsDeparture points
deboardingExiting a vessel

platform · station · bus stop · train · tram · carriage · coach · vehicle · dismounts · gets down

Opposites

boarding vs. disembarking

alightsboards

Planks or governing bodies

mounts · embarks · gets on · enters · hops on

landing vs. taking off

alightstakes off

Leaves or ascends

takes flight · lifts off · ascends · soars · launches

settling vs. departing

alightsdeparts

Goes away from

leaves · takes off · abandons

Phrases

sets alightCauses to burn
set the world alightCreate sensational success
setting alightCausing to burn

Family

alight, alighting, alighted

Familiarity: Top 500,000
Profile: Used worldwide · Timeless · Concrete · Everyday, not technical · Rated G