Lighten

Quick meaning: Lighten is a verb meaning (transitive) To make brighter or clearer; to illuminate.

Meaning

(transitive) To make brighter or clearer; to illuminate.

More Meanings

1. (intransitive) To become brighter or clearer; to brighten.
2. (intransitive, now rare) To flash lightning, to give off lightning.
3. (transitive) To emit or disclose in, or as if in, lightning; to flash out, like lightning.
4. (transitive) To alleviate; to reduce the burden of.
5. (transitive) To make light or lighter in weight.
6. (transitive) To make less serious or more cheerful.
7. (archaic) To illuminate with knowledge.

Example Sentences

Enter the Conjurer; it lightens and thunders […]

Sorrow can be lightened by being openly brought out.

to lighten an apartment with lamps or gas; to lighten the streets

While we were in the Twins it began to thunder and lighten and pour with rain.

Word Forms

• lightens
• lightening
• lightened
• lightenest
• lightenedst
• lighteneth

Synonyms for lighten

Depending on context, synonyms include light up, enlighten, brighten.

Antonyms for lighten

Common opposites include darken.

Related Words

Related dictionary entries include brighten, enlighten, illuminate, cut, reducing, attenuate.

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