Maybe lit up if contemptible (7)
I believe the answer is:
pitiful
'contemptible' is the definition.
(similar in meaning)
'maybe lit up if' is the wordplay.
'maybe' indicates an anagram.
'lit'+'up'+'if'='litupif'
'litupif' is an anagram of 'PITIFUL'.
(Other definitions for pitiful that I've seen before include "Distressing" , "Sad - wretched" , "Very inadequate" , "Tiny" , "Miserable" .)