ball, forked, sheet
Forked lightning flickered across the sky.

heat (esp. AmE)
greased (figurative)
He jumped out of the car like greased lightning (= very fast).

bolt, flash, streak
A bolt of lightning struck the roof of the building.

flash
Lightning flashed outside.

illuminate sth, light sth, light sth up
Lightning lit up the night sky.

hit sb/sth, strike sb/sth
Lightning hit the tree.
He was struck by lightning.

bolt, flash
storm
conductor (BrE), rod (AmE)
strike (AmE)
Lightning strikes caused scores of fires across the state.

thunder and lightning

Lightning is used with these nouns:
pace, reaction, reflex, sketch, speed, strike