light-year

noun

ˈlīt-ˌyir How to pronounce light-year (audio)
Definition of light-yearnext
as in world
a huge physical or conceptual distance my sister and I are close in age, but personality-wise, there are light-years between us

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of light-year Millions of light-years away, but because of that black thing Brit had come riding up the hill at dusk. — Literary Hub, 19 Aug. 2026 The enormous columns of gas and dust sit inside the Eagle Nebula, about 6,500 light-years away, and stretch roughly five light-years. — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 15 Aug. 2026 The celestial phenomenon, located in a galaxy roughly 115 million light-years from Earth, is the remnant of a dense ball of stars being slowly pulled apart by the gravity of its host galaxy. — Taylor Nicioli, CNN Money, 13 Aug. 2026 But, as with any franchise, some of these iterations are light-years better than others. — Chris Snellgrove, Entertainment Weekly, 7 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for light-year
Recent Examples of Synonyms for light-year
  1. world
  2. galaxy
Noun
  • Four suspects in the killing of former world champion boxer Zolani Tete were arrested, South African police said Monday.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 24 Aug. 2026
  • The two of them seem united by their need to prove themselves in a world of white men afforded the privilege and flexibility to be far more eccentric.
    — Siddhant Adlakha, Vulture, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of world
Noun
  • There are supermassive black holes lurking in the center of almost every large galaxy.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 19 Aug. 2026
  • He’s confronted by his mysterious past and is hurled into a dangerous adventure across the galaxy that puts him on a crash course with destiny.
    — Anthony D'Alessandro, Deadline, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of galaxy

Browse Nearby Words

lightweights
light-year
light-years
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Cite this Entry

“Light-year.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/light-year. Accessed 25 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on light-year

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about light-year

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