1Light or brightness, often referring to a soft or gentle glow.
窓から月の明かりが差し込んでいた。
Moonlight was streaming in through the window.
遠くに家の明かりが見えてほっとした。
I felt relieved when I saw the lights of a house in the distance.
ろうそくの明かりだけで食事をした。
We had our meal by candlelight alone.
山の上から見る夜景の明かりはとてもきれいだ。
The lights of the night view seen from the mountaintop are very beautiful.
2A light or lamp used for illumination, or the light it produces; often written 灯火.
停電で部屋の明かりが全部消えた。
The blackout turned off all the lights in the room.
寝る前に明かりを消した。
I turned off the light before going to sleep.
玄関の明かりをつけたまま出かけてしまった。
I went out and accidentally left the entrance light on.
3(Dated) Proof or evidence of one's innocence; survives mainly in the set phrase '身の明かりを立てる' (to prove one's innocence), and is otherwise rarely used in modern Japanese.
彼はやっと身の明かりを立てることができた。
He was finally able to prove his innocence.