lighten

¹

[ lahyt-n ]

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.

3. to flash as or like lightning (often used impersonally with it as subject):

   It thundered and lightened for hours.

4. 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.

3. to make lighter or less dark:

   Add white to lighten the paint.

4. Obsolete. enlighten.
5. Obsolete. to flash or emit like lightning (usually followed by out, forth, or down ):

   eyes that lightened forth implacable hatred.

lighten

²

[ 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.

3. to make less burdensome or oppressive; alleviate; mitigate:

   to lighten taxes;

   to lighten someone's cares.

   Synonyms: reduce, lessen, ease

   Antonyms: aggravate

4. 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.

3. to become less gloomy; perk up:

   People's spirits usually lighten when spring arrives.

lighten

¹

/ ˈlaɪtən /

verb

1. to become or make light
2. intr to shine; glow
3. intr (of lightning) to flash
4. tr an archaic word for enlighten

lighten

²

/ ˈlaɪtən /

verb

1. to make or become less heavy
2. to make or become less burdensome or oppressive; mitigate
3. to make or become more cheerful or lively

Other Words From

• lighten·er noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of lighten¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English lightnen; light ¹, -en ¹

Origin of lighten²

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English lightnen; light ², -en ¹

Example Sentences

But as they involve characters talking about revolution — once again, it’s the Rebels vs. the Empire — they don’t exactly lighten it.

From Los Angeles Times

They added that the NHS needed to hire more consultants, ask other staff to take on some of their work and invest in technologies such as artificial intelligence to lighten the load.

From BBC

Some mood lightening seemed in order given how far the team has come since its 1-5 start.

From Los Angeles Times

Scientists had two choices - use a heavier rocket to carry the mission, but that would cost more, or remove some of the hardware to lighten the load.

From BBC

After my aunt told me her story — and my cousin picked her jaw up off the floor — something at that table shifted and lightened.

From Salon

Related Words

• alleviate
• ameliorate
• cut down
• dilute
• ease
• facilitate
• lessen
• mitigate
• mollify
• relieve