lighten
Use Lighten in a sentence
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)
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 followed by out, forth, or down ): eyes that lightened forth implacable hatred.
00:10
Lighten
is one of our favorite verbs.
So is yaff. Does it mean:
| to bark; yelp. |
| to expurgate (a written work) by removing or modifying passages considered vulgar or objectionable. |
Dictionary.com Unabridged
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.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source
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Link To lighten
Collins
World English Dictionary
lighten1 (ˈlaɪtən) ![[Click for IPA pronunciation guide]](http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif) | |
| —vb | |
| 1. | to become or make light |
| 2. | (intr) to shine; glow |
| 3. | (intr) (of lightning) to flash |
| 4. | (tr) an archaic word for enlighten |
| lighten2 (ˈlaɪtən) | |
| —vb | |
| 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 |
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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Etymonline
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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Example sentences
For generations, tinkerers have been pointing out how much their projects will lighten the load of housework.
Private companies can also lighten the load of space costs on governments.
Travis decides to lighten his load by dumping the gravel.
And bird bones are hollow and seem delicate, which should help lighten the load.
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