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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CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?

There are grammar debates that never die; and the ones highlighted in the questions in this quiz are sure to rile everyone up once again. Do you know how to answer the questions that cause some of the greatest grammar debates?

Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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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

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

Depending on the coating and which glass surface it’s applied to, low-e coatings can also reflect infrared wavelengths toward the outside or the inside, keeping homes warmer in winter or lightening the load on air conditioners in summer.
Cloudy double-pane windows are to be expected with time|Jeanne Huber|January 11, 2021|Washington Post
Backup point guard Ish Smith, 32, will be called on to lighten some of Wall’s load.
Wizards’ plan for John Wall involves fewer minutes, more run for Ish Smith, Cassius Winston|Ava Wallace|November 20, 2020|Washington Post
As part of our “Lighter Living” concept, we host free monthly breathwork sessions to our community to help women lighten the emotional load of everyday life.
The self-funded retail startup designing seasonless clothing for women|Rachel King|November 1, 2020|Fortune
Automation lightens print workloadsPurpose-built digital content tools for newsrooms have made the process for putting together digital content close to seamless.
How artificial intelligence and machine learning power content-first newsrooms|Naviga Global|October 26, 2020|Digiday

We should be doing our part to try to encourage them and put forth an effort to lighten the load of disappointment that they’re experiencing.
A guide to giving gifts for postponed and shrunken weddings|Brooke Henderson|August 20, 2020|Fortune
The mood was lightened considerably by the co-hosts of the podcast “Mom and Dad Are Fighting.”
Want Blue Eyes With That Baby?: The Strange New World of Human Reproduction|Eleanor Clift|November 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Maybe her husband's administration lightened regulation of the financial industry and cut capital gains taxes.
How Obama is Setting the Stage for Hillary in 2016|David Frum|September 15, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Waists have been whittled, skin lightened, and breasts enhanced to ridiculous proportions.
The War on ‘Teen Vogue’: Young Readers Escalate Campaign for More ‘Real Girls’|Abigail Pesta|July 18, 2012|DAILY BEAST
Mitt Romney, the serious businessman known for his sober campaign style, has lightened up.
CPAC: Mitt Romney Tries Mockery|Howard Kurtz|February 10, 2011|DAILY BEAST
Out of the darkness we heard a haunting, wild call; the screen lightened and we were flying over trees shrouded in mist.
9 Superfans on 9 Extra Avatar Minutes|The Daily Beast|August 29, 2010|DAILY BEAST
That his friend had withdrawn, was a pledge of his pacific wishes; and, with a lightened countenance, Louis rose from his knee.
The Pastor's Fire-side Vol. 3 of 4|Jane Porter
To whatever extent the grants of royal domains were revoked, those burdens would be lightened.
The History of England from the Accession of James II.|Thomas Babington Macaulay
Eric stood still, trembling with rage, while his eyes lightened scorn and indignation.
Eric, or Little by Little|Frederic W. Farrar
Excellenza Reverendissima, my prayers shall in the future be lightened by the memory of your presence.
Fifty Contemporary One-Act Plays|Various
When they had lightened her sufficiently, two of them sprang over into the cockpit and bailed to better advantage there.
The Rival Campers Afloat|Ruel Perley Smith

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

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)