Synonyms Examples Word Origin
See more synonyms for lighten on Thesaurus.com verb (used without object) to become lighter or less dark; brighten: The sky lightened after the storm. to brighten or light up, as the eyes or features: Her face lightened when she heard the good news. to flash as or like lightning (often used impersonally with it as subject): It thundered and lightened for hours. Archaic to shine, gleam, or be bright: steel blades lightening in the sun. Show More
to give light to; illuminate: A full moon lightened the road. to brighten (the eyes, features, etc.): A large smile lightened his face. to make lighter or less dark: Add white to lighten the paint. Obsolete enlighten . Obsolete to flash or emit like lightning (usually followed by out, forth, or down ): eyes that lightened forth implacable hatred. Show More
Origin of lighten 1 1300–50; Middle English lightnen; see
light1 ,
-en1 Related forms light·en·er , noun to make lighter in weight: to lighten the load on a truck. to lessen the load of or upon: to lighten a cargo ship. to make less burdensome or oppressive; alleviate; mitigate: to lighten taxes; to lighten someone's cares. to cheer or gladden: Such news lightens my heart. Show More
verb (used without object) to become less severe, stringent, or harsh; ease up: Border inspections have lightened recently. to become less heavy, cumbersome, burdensome, oppressive, etc.: His worries seem to have lightened somewhat. to become less gloomy; perk up: People's spirits usually lighten when spring arrives. Show More
Origin of lighten 2 1350–1400; Middle English lightnen; see
light2 ,
-en1 Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Related Words for lighten brighten ,
mitigate ,
dilute ,
facilitate ,
ease ,
relieve ,
lessen ,
alleviate ,
mollify ,
ameliorate ,
shine ,
irradiate ,
light ,
flash ,
illume ,
gleam ,
reduce ,
decrease ,
allay ,
levitate Examples from the Web for lighten Contemporary Examples of lighten Doane tweeted, “the film does make fun of Wannabe Berean unimaginative Christians who need to lighten up.”
Jazz lovers who had taken exception to the previous bashing were told to lighten up, and stop complaining.
As mourning time progressed and the emotional strain began to subside, the black hues began to lighten .
“That sound is a requirement for renting a car in Costa Rica,” Mugianis jokes to lighten the mood.
Of course, I am aware that this is a simply a video game and critics would say I should lighten up.
Historical Examples of lighten But at that moment an inspiration came to lighten the gloom.
After a short consultation it was determined to lighten the ship.
Perhaps together we might lighten the weight of it a little.
He had done all that he could on the journey to lighten the labor of those attached to his own wagon.
That it might be able to lighten the burden of this self-imposed labour.
British Dictionary definitions for lighten to become or make light (intr) to shine; glow (intr) (of lightning) to flash (tr) an archaic word for enlighten Show More
to make or become less heavy to make or become less burdensome or oppressive; mitigate to make or become more cheerful or lively Show More
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
Word Origin and History for lighten v.1 "to make less heavy," figuratively "to make cheerful," mid-14c., from light (adj.1) + -en (1). Related: Lightened ; lightening .
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v.2 "shed light upon, illuminate, brighten," early 14c., from light (n.) -en (1). Meaning "to grow brighter" is late 14c. Of faces, expressions, etc., from 1795. Related: Lightened ; lightening .
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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