lighten

¹

[ lahyt-n ]

verb (used without object)

1. to become lighter or less dark; brighten:

   The sky lightened after the storm.

2. to brighten or light up, as the eyes or features:

   Her face lightened when she heard the good news.

3. to flash as or like lightning (often used impersonally with it as subject):

   It thundered and lightened for hours.

4. Archaic. to shine, gleam, or be bright:

   steel blades lightening in the sun.

verb (used with object)

1. to give light to; illuminate:

   A full moon lightened the road.

2. to brighten (the eyes, features, etc.):

   A large smile lightened his face.

3. to make lighter or less dark:

   Add white to lighten the paint.

4. Obsolete. enlighten.
5. Obsolete. to flash or emit like lightning (usually followed by out, forth, or down ):

   eyes that lightened forth implacable hatred.

lighten

²

[ lahyt-n ]

verb (used with object)

1. to make lighter in weight:

   to lighten the load on a truck.

2. to lessen the load of or upon:

   to lighten a cargo ship.

3. to make less burdensome or oppressive; alleviate; mitigate:

   to lighten taxes;

   to lighten someone's cares.

   Synonyms: reduce, lessen, ease

   Antonyms: aggravate

4. to cheer or gladden:

   Such news lightens my heart.

verb (used without object)

1. to become less severe, stringent, or harsh; ease up:

   Border inspections have lightened recently.

2. to become less heavy, cumbersome, burdensome, oppressive, etc.:

   His worries seem to have lightened somewhat.

3. to become less gloomy; perk up:

   People's spirits usually lighten when spring arrives.

lighten

¹

/ ˈlaɪtən /

verb

1. to become or make light
2. intr to shine; glow
3. intr (of lightning) to flash
4. tr an archaic word for enlighten

lighten

²

/ ˈlaɪtən /

verb

1. to make or become less heavy
2. to make or become less burdensome or oppressive; mitigate
3. to make or become more cheerful or lively

Other Words From

• lighten·er noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of lighten¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English lightnen; light ¹, -en ¹

Origin of lighten²

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English lightnen; light ², -en ¹

Example Sentences

She wanted to present the survivors’ stories together to lighten the individual burden of illustrating the human toll of sexual violence and the resilience of survivors.

From ProPublica

Perhaps we can lighten the burden by acknowledging what parents around us are experiencing and maybe even find ways to support them where we can.

From Search Engine Land

Over 200 million people use Snapchat Lenses every day, some of them to lighten their skin tone.

From MIT Technology Review

In the winter, the club even offers a freight-hauling service so you can lighten your load on the ski in.

From Outside Online

In her time as a model, Joleen Mitton has experienced firsthand photographers’ desire to lighten her skin tone, as well as offensive comments made in her direction.

From Ozy

Doane tweeted, “the film does make fun of Wannabe Berean unimaginative Christians who need to lighten up.”

From The Daily Beast

Jazz lovers who had taken exception to the previous bashing were told to lighten up, and stop complaining.

From The Daily Beast

As mourning time progressed and the emotional strain began to subside, the black hues began to lighten.

From The Daily Beast

“That sound is a requirement for renting a car in Costa Rica,” Mugianis jokes to lighten the mood.

From The Daily Beast

Of course, I am aware that this is a simply a video game and critics would say I should lighten up.

From The Daily Beast

Thou art the help of Christians; lighten our tribulations, and help us with motherly intercession at the throne of thy divine Son.

From Project Gutenberg

Obviously, the very least they could do, was to try by all means in their power, to lighten the burden they had laid upon her.

From Project Gutenberg

Pretty soon it darkened up, and begun to thunder and lighten; so the birds was right about it.

From Project Gutenberg

Elvedon was rather like that, though the present tenants have managed to lighten it a good deal.

From Project Gutenberg

If the rollways could be definitely cleared once, the work would lighten all along the line.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• alleviate
• ameliorate
• cut down
• dilute
• ease
• facilitate
• lessen
• mitigate
• mollify
• relieve