lightning lit up the sky

[alpacinou]

Hello.

I'm looking for a verb other than light up to use in this sentence. I don't want to use light up immediately after lightning.

The lightning lit up the blackened sky.

Can I use "illuminate"?

The lightning illuminated the blackened sky.

 

[emsr2d2]

"illuminated" works better for me. I don't like "the blackened sky". How about "the pitch black sky"?

 

[alpacinou]

I don't like "the blackened sky". How about "the pitch black sky"?

They usually use "blackened" to describe the sky during a storm.

I'm not talking about night sky.

 

[emsr2d2]

They usually use "blackened" to describe the sky during a storm.

I'm not talking about night sky.

Who are "they"? I didn't necessarily think you were talking about the night sky.

 

[Tarheel]

Perhaps:

The lightning flashed across the sky.

Or:

I saw the lightning flash across the sky, then I heard the rumble of thunder.

Everybody knows what a storm is like, so if you have already mentioned that storm clouds have come and covered the sky you might never have to mention thst it's dark. (Goodness! I just looked outside my window. It's raining. )

 

[alpacinou]

Who are "they"? I didn't necessarily think you were talking about the night sky.

I remember I've seen it a few times.

It's even in the dictionary:

https://www.ldoceonline.com/dictionary/blacken

 

[alpacinou]

Perhaps:

(Goodness! I just looked outside my window. It's raining. )

That is great. Where do you live?

 

[emsr2d2]

I might use "The sky blackened suddenly", but I wouldn't use "The blackened sky".

 

[Tarheel]

That is great. Where do you live?

I was kidding about the rain. But it did rain here ( Charlotte, North Carolina (USA)) just a couple of days ago.