lightening

American  

[lahyt-n-ing] / ˈlaɪt n ɪŋ /

noun

Medicine/Medical.

1. the descent of the uterus into the pelvic cavity, occurring toward the end of pregnancy, changing the contour of the abdomen and facilitating breathing by lessening pressure under the diaphragm.

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lightening British  

/ ˈlaɪtənɪŋ /

noun

1. obstetrics the sensation, experienced by many women late in pregnancy when the head of the fetus enters the pelvis, of a reduction in pressure on the diaphragm, making it easier to breathe

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Etymology

Origin of lightening

First recorded in 1520–30; lighten ² + -ing ¹

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Compare meaning

How does lightening compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• lightning vs. lightening

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

lightening

“It’s lightening a load on your shoulders,” she said.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 8, 2026

He explained why he had passed along the message to Walters: “If he’d just own up to what he’d done, I might talk to somebody about lightening his sentence a little bit.”

From Slate ● Sep. 17, 2026

Still, even when dealing with corpses, Walker’s characters can deftly deliver a one-liner or a bad pun when the mood needs lightening; she doesn’t really think along drama versus comedy lines.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 9, 2026

Lindsay said she was "deeply concerned" about the social factors fuelling demand for skin lightening products, warning that "colourism and harmful beauty standards can create vulnerability".

From BBC ● Feb. 17, 2026

He pivoted to look at the hills, which the sun was lightening to smoky blue.

From "Pax" by Sara Pennypacker

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