lessen

[ les-uhn ]
See synonyms for: lessenlessenedlessening on Thesaurus.com

verb (used without object)
  1. to become less.

verb (used with object)
  1. to make less; reduce.

  2. Archaic. to represent as less; depreciate; disparage.

Origin of lessen

1
First recorded in 1300–50; late Middle English lessenen, lasnen; equivalent to less + -en1

Other words from lessen

  • un·less·ened, adjective

Words that may be confused with lessen

Words Nearby lessen

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use lessen in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for lessen

lessen

/ (ˈlɛsən) /


verb
  1. to make or become less

  2. (tr) to make little of

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012