Lighten

/ˈlaɪ.tn̩/ · verb

Meaning

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

Definitions by Sense

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

Example Sentences

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

A Key of fire ran all along the shore, And lighten’d all the river with the blaze:

Enter the Conjurer; it lightens and thunders […]

[…] this dreadful night, That thunders, lightens, opens graves, and roars As doth the lion.

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

[…] behold his eye, As bright as is the eagle’s, lightens forth Controlling majesty:

O Light which mak’st the Light, which makes the Day, Which setst the Eye without and Mind within, Lighten my spirit with one cleare heavenly ray, Which now to view it selfe doth first begin.

Sorrow can be lightened by being openly brought out.

Synonyms for lighten

Antonyms for lighten

Related Words

Word Forms

• lightens
• lightening
• lightened
• no-table-tags
• glossary
• lighten
• lightenest
• lightenedst
• lighteneth
• -

Usage Notes

Choose a synonym only when it preserves the intended meaning, tone, and grammar of the full sentence.

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