Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

lights-out

/ˈlaɪts.aʊt/

Word Rarity Uncommon

Frequency: 4.63 in modern English

Syllables: light-s-out
IPA: /ˈlaɪts.aʊt/

13

Scrabble Score

9

Letters

3

Syllables

8

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

The time at night at which artificial lights are to be turned off, a curfew or bedtime.

Uncountable

noun

The prescribed bedtime for persons living in a boarding school or staying in a hospital.

Uncountable

noun

Something hopeless, over; unconsciousness.

Uncountable

noun

A decisive play.

Uncountable

adj

Done or performed in the dark because of a fully automated working environment. Often describes night shift or third shift work.

Example Sentences

"We were all expected to be in bed by lights-out."
"It's gonna be lights out for you, pal!"
"Hardy landed a picture perfect right uppercut square on Padilla's jaw. It was lights out for the formerly undefeated pugilist."
"Then, come November, the hunters are sitting there waiting for the unsuspecting gullible deer, and then it's lights out for the deer."
"No one could really stop him in the second half and he was lights-out in OHL playoffs."
"lights-out manufacturing"

Usage

Uncountable

Phrases

dark factory out like a light put someone's light out

Frequently Paired Words

curfew dark factory out like a light put someone's light out

Synonyms

taps

Questions

How do you pronounce lights-out?: The recorded pronunciation is /ˈlaɪts.aʊt/.
What does lights-out mean?: The time at night at which artificial lights are to be turned off, a curfew or bedtime.

How to pronounce lights-out

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “lights-out”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/ˈlaɪts.aʊt/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “lights-out”.
Repeat and practice — Say “lights-out” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.