lighten

1
[ lahyt-n ]
See synonyms for: lightenlightenedlightening on Thesaurus.com

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.

  1. to flash as or like lightning (often used impersonally with it as subject): It thundered and lightened for hours.

  2. 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.

  1. to make lighter or less dark: Add white to lighten the paint.

  2. Obsolete. enlighten.

  3. Obsolete. to flash or emit like lightning (usually followed by out, forth, or down): eyes that lightened forth implacable hatred.

Origin of lighten

1
First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English lightnen; see origin at light1, -en1

Other words from lighten

  • light·en·er, noun

Words Nearby lighten

Other definitions for lighten (2 of 2)

lighten2
[ 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.

  1. to make less burdensome or oppressive; alleviate; mitigate: to lighten taxes;to lighten someone's cares.

  2. 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.

  1. to become less gloomy; perk up: People's spirits usually lighten when spring arrives.

Origin of lighten

2
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English lightnen; see origin at light2, -en1

Other words for lighten

Opposites for lighten

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

How to use lighten in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for lighten (1 of 2)

lighten1

/ (ˈlaɪtən) /


verb
  1. to become or make light

  2. (intr) to shine; glow

  1. (intr) (of lightning) to flash

  2. (tr) an archaic word for enlighten

British Dictionary definitions for lighten (2 of 2)

lighten2

/ (ˈlaɪtən) /


verb
  1. to make or become less heavy

  2. to make or become less burdensome or oppressive; mitigate

  1. to make or become more cheerful or lively

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