MEANING
A moment when an idea or situation suddenly becomes clear to someone.
Use it for
naming a sudden insight; describing a moment of new understanding; showing an explanation suddenly making sense; contrasting gradual learning with a sudden realizationProvides a noun for a sudden moment of insight, distinct from a clause describing delayed understanding. Writing functions: Realization / Sudden insight. Semantic categories (by meaning): Realization / Sudden insight. Contexts: General conversation; Creative prose.
Words that belong together
- have a light-bulb moment
- a sudden light-bulb moment
On the page
Her light-bulb moment came when she compared the two maps.
The tutorial produced no single light-bulb moment; understanding developed gradually.
Word forms
- Base
- light-bulb moment
Usage notes
Count noun phrase: a light-bulb moment; plural light-bulb moments. Also written lightbulb moment or light bulb moment; do not add those spellings separately. Register: neutral. Commonness: moderately common (qualitative editorial estimate, informed by dictionaries/corpus).
Practice this word in a sentenceYour margin notes
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