lighten

[ lahyt-n ]

/ ˈlaɪt n /

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See synonyms for: lighten / lightened / lightening 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.

verb (used with object)

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.

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Origin of lighten

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

OTHER WORDS FROM lighten

light·en·er, noun

Words nearby lighten

light curve, light displacement, light draft, light-duty, light-emitting diode, lighten, light engine, lightening, lighten up, lighter, lighterage

Other definitions for lighten (2 of 2)

lighten²

[ lahyt-n ]

/ ˈlaɪt n /

verb (used with object)

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.

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.

OTHER WORDS FOR lighten

3 ease, lessen, reduce.

See synonyms for lighten on Thesaurus.com

OPPOSITES FOR lighten

3 aggravate.

See antonyms for lighten on Thesaurus.com

Origin of lighten

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

How to use lighten in a sentence

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.
How We Report on Pain, Death and Trauma Without Losing Our Humanity|by Karim Doumar|August 26, 2021|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.
The shifting sands of SERPs; Tuesday’s daily brief|George Nguyen|August 24, 2021|Search Engine Land
Over 200 million people use Snapchat Lenses every day, some of them to lighten their skin tone.
How digital beauty filters perpetuate colorism|Tate Ryan-Mosley|August 15, 2021|MIT Technology Review
In the winter, the club even offers a freight-hauling service so you can lighten your load on the ski in.
Add These 5 Backcountry Lodges to Your Adventure Bucket List|elessard|August 12, 2021|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.
Model Revolutionaries Rock Fashion|Sean Culligan|August 5, 2021|Ozy
Doane tweeted, “the film does make fun of Wannabe Berean unimaginative Christians who need to lighten up.”
Kirk Cameron Saves Christmas from Abominable Killjoys (Other Christians)|Brandy Zadrozny|November 14, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Jazz lovers who had taken exception to the previous bashing were told to lighten up, and stop complaining.
What’s With This Uncool Surge in Jazz Bashing?|Ted Gioia|November 2, 2014|DAILY BEAST
As mourning time progressed and the emotional strain began to subside, the black hues began to lighten.
The Best-Dressed Way to Say Goodbye|Justin Jones|October 21, 2014|DAILY BEAST
“That sound is a requirement for renting a car in Costa Rica,” Mugianis jokes to lighten the mood.
Hallucinating Away a Heroin Addiction|Abby Haglage|May 4, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Of course, I am aware that this is a simply a video game and critics would say I should lighten up.
Most Young Gamers Unfit For Call of Duty|Don Gomez|October 8, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Thou art the help of Christians; lighten our tribulations, and help us with motherly intercession at the throne of thy divine Son.
Mary, Help of Christians|Various
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.
The Daughters of Danaus|Mona Caird
Pretty soon it darkened up, and begun to thunder and lighten; so the birds was right about it.
Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Complete|Mark Twain (Samuel Clemens)
Elvedon was rather like that, though the present tenants have managed to lighten it a good deal.
Robin Redbreast|Mary Louisa Molesworth
If the rollways could be definitely cleared once, the work would lighten all along the line.
Blazed Trail Stories|Stewart Edward White

British Dictionary definitions for lighten (1 of 2)

lighten¹

/ (ˈlaɪtən) /

verb

to become or make light

(intr) to shine; glow

(intr) (of lightning) to flash

(tr) an archaic word for enlighten

British Dictionary definitions for lighten (2 of 2)

lighten²

/ (ˈlaɪtən) /

verb

to make or become less heavy

to make or become less burdensome or oppressive; mitigate

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

lighten

Origin of lighten

OTHER WORDS FROM lighten

Words nearby lighten

Other definitions for lighten (2 of 2)

OTHER WORDS FOR lighten

OPPOSITES FOR lighten

Origin of lighten

Words related to lighten

How to use lighten in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for lighten (1 of 2)

British Dictionary definitions for lighten (2 of 2)