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lighten

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light⋅en

1  [lahyt-n]
Use lighten in a Sentence
–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)
5. to give light to; illuminate: A full moon lightened the road.
6. to brighten (the eyes, features, etc.): A large smile lightened his face.
7. to make lighter or less dark: Add white to lighten the paint.
8. Obsolete. enlighten.
9. Obsolete. to flash or emit like lightning (usually fol. by out, forth, or down): eyes that lightened forth implacable hatred.
Origin:
1300–50; ME lightnen; see light 1 , -en 1

Related forms:
light⋅en⋅er, noun
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light⋅en

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.
4. to cheer or gladden: Such news lightens my heart.
–verb (used without object)
5. to become less severe, stringent, or harsh; ease up: Border inspections have lightened recently.
6. to become less heavy, cumbersome, burdensome, oppressive, etc.: His worries seem to have lightened somewhat.
7. to become less gloomy; perk up: People's spirits usually lighten when spring arrives.
Origin:
1350–1400; ME lightnen; see light 2 , -en 1

Synonyms:
3. ease, lessen, reduce.

Antonyms:
3. aggravate.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To lighten
light·en 1   (līt'n)   
v.   light·ened, light·en·ing, light·ens

v.   tr.

    1. To make light or lighter; illuminate or brighten.

    2. To make (a color) lighter.

  2. Archaic To enlighten.

v.   intr.

  1. To become lighter; brighten.

  2. To be luminous; shine.

  3. To give off flashes of lightning.

light·en 2   (līt'n)   
v.   light·ened, light·en·ing, light·ens

v.   tr.

  1. To make less heavy.

  2. To lessen the oppressiveness, trouble, or severity of. See Synonyms at relieve.

  3. To relieve of cares or worries; gladden.

v.   intr.

  1. To become less in weight.

  2. To become less oppressive, troublesome, or severe.

  3. To become cheerful.

Phrasal Verb(s):
lighten up Informal To take matters less seriously: Everything will work out fine, so stop worrying and lighten up.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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