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, ordown ).

   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 Word Forms

• lightener 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

He told family members that Diet Coke was responsible for his longevity, lightening the mood.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Lawmakers crafted the deduction to lighten the tax burden of seniors with fixed incomes and higher medical costs, said Michael Levy, a partner at accounting firm Crowe’s tax group.

Read more on MarketWatch

We were heartened to find that this mail-order boom is providing a proliferation of excellent options just as time-stressed home cooks are looking to lighten the holiday-hosting load, or outsource it entirely.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

During this time, the part-time indie author was writing a novel with dark psychological themes so to lighten the mood, he started making War & Peace irreverent and funny.

Read more on BBC

Investors are starting to lighten their exposure to tech stocks and opting for less exciting but possibly more stable alternatives heading into the final weeks of the year.

Read more on Barron's

Related Words

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