lucid
Americanadjective
-
easily understood; completely intelligible or comprehensible.
a lucid explanation.
- Synonyms:
- obvious, evident, understandable, plain
- Antonyms:
- obscure
-
characterized by clear perception or understanding; rational or sane.
a lucid moment in his madness.
- Synonyms:
- reasonable, sound
- Antonyms:
- irrational
-
shining or bright.
- Antonyms:
- dim
-
clear; pellucid; transparent.
- Synonyms:
- limpid
- Antonyms:
- obscure
adjective
-
readily understood; clear
-
shining or glowing
-
psychiatry of or relating to a period of normality between periods of insane or irresponsible behaviour
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of lucid
First recorded in 1575–85; from Latin lūcidus, equivalent to lūc- (stem of lūx light 1 ) + -idus -id 4
Explanation
Something that's lucid is clear and understandable. Lucid writing is important in journalism, so that readers easily get the point of the article they're reading. When what you write or say is lucid, it's straightforward and its meaning is crystal clear. You can also use the adjective lucid to describe your mind or thoughts when you're thinking in a rational, sensible way: "I was worried about my grandmother's confusion yesterday, but she seems really lucid today." Another meaning is "translucent," or "letting light shine through" — which makes sense since lucid comes from the Latin lucidus, "light or clear," with its root of lux, "light."
Vocabulary lists containing lucid
Let There Be Light: Lum and Luc
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
"The Odyssey" by Homer, Books 1–7
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Grade 10, List 4
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
And yet here comes Simon Armitage, the poet laureate of the U.K., with his stunning new verse translation, not as a vandal of antiquity but as a lucid accomplice to its endurance.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 24, 2026
The second thing to say is that AOC’s actual response to the question, once she finally got there, was entirely lucid and reasonable.
From Salon • Feb. 22, 2026
The findings support the idea that REM sleep, the rapid eye movement stage of sleep when vivid and sometimes lucid dreams occur, may be especially helpful for creative problem solving.
From Science Daily • Feb. 15, 2026
He was sharp and lucid and, yes, ready to talk.
From Slate • Dec. 1, 2025
Emma rewrote awkward sentences, and if she didn’t understand what he was trying to say, they talked it through so that he could write it in a more lucid fashion.
From "Charles and Emma: The Darwins' Leap of Faith" by Deborah Heiligman
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
