lit

Lit means exciting, fun or excellent, especially when talking about a party or event. It can also mean drunk or high, which is the word’s older slang meaning.

What does lit mean?

In its most common modern sense, something lit is full of energy: a packed party, a great concert, a hyped crowd. “The party was lit” means it was a great time. It can describe people, too: “the crowd was lit.”

The older meaning, intoxicated, hasn’t disappeared. “He got lit at the wedding” means he got drunk. Context usually makes it clear which meaning someone has in mind.

How to use lit

• “Last night’s show was lit.”
• “This playlist is lit, who made it?”
• “It’s about to get lit.” (things are about to get exciting)
• “Everyone was a little lit by midnight.” (drunk)

Is lit still used?

Yes, but it peaked in the mid-to-late 2010s and can now sound slightly dated, or ironic, among younger speakers. Words like fire or bussin are often used instead for “really good.”

Where lit comes from

The “drunk” meaning is over a century old: Merriam-Webster dates it to 1914, while Dictionary.com places it around the turn of the 20th century. The modern “exciting” sense became especially popular online in the 2010s, though exactly when it started isn’t documented.

Related terms

• Bussin: really good, especially food.
• Slay: to do something extremely well.
• Goated: the best.
• Sheesh: an expression of amazement.

See more terms like this in our Gen Z slang dictionary.