In Light Of | Meaning & Synonyms

In light of means “because” or “in relation to.” The phrase is used to explain a change or state of something due to new information or circumstances. For example, if someone plans a trip to the beach but it starts raining, they may say, “In light of unexpected weather, we’ve changed our plans.”

Examples: In light of in a sentence
In light of the news, we decided to go to Japan instead.

We changed our plans in light of Tim’s recent promotion.

In light of the merger, all employees must undergo training.

Carol had to leave early in light of her husband’s discovery of a raccoon in the attic.

What does in light of mean?

“In light of” is an idiom used to explain that something is happening because of new or shifting information or circumstances (e.g., “I’m changing classes in light of my adjusted test scores”).

“In light of” is similar in meaning to “because” and “considering” and can be used in the beginning or middle of a sentence (but never at the end).

Examples: Using in light of in a sentence
  • In light of getting hired at a new job, Derrick and I decided to move to a bigger apartment.
  • Derrick and I decided to move to a bigger apartment in light of my getting hired at a new job.
  • Because I got hired at a new job, Derrick and I decided to move to a bigger apartment in light of.

In light of synonyms

Some synonyms and near synonyms for “in light of” include:

Synonyms Examples
All things considered All things considered, Joel and I decided to try to sell the car to get a van instead.
Bearing in mind Bearing in mind that I have a large family, buying things in bulk makes more sense.
Because Because of the drama, my teenage daughters are not talking to each other right now.
Considering Considering everything my dog went through during the surgery, he is in good spirits.
Taking into account Taking into account all the recently implemented changes, I understand why some of you are stressed.

You can explore more alternatives to “in light of” using the QuillBot Paraphraser.

Frequently asked questions about in light of

What does in light of recent events mean?

“In light of recent events” is a variant of the idiomin light of” and introduces a change in something because of the events that preceded it (e.g., “In light of recent events, Lola will be transferring to another department”).

What does in light of this mean?

In light of this is a less specific variant of the idiom “in light of.” While both phrases are used to explain a change or state of something due to new circumstances, “in light of this” uses the demonstrative pronoun “this” and functions on a presumption of the audience’s knowledge of what is being referred to (e.g., “In light of this, we’ll be going home early”).

What’s a synonym for in light of this?

Other ways to say “in light of this” include:

  • Because of this
  • Due to this
  • Given this
  • In view of this
  • Taking this into account

The QuillBot Paraphraser can help you find even more ways to say “in light of this.”

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Gina Rancaño, BA

Gina holds a Bachelor of Arts in English, as well as a certificate in professional and public writing from Florida International University. When she’s not writing, she spends her time reading.