lighten
lighten Lexical Profile
lighten Game Scores & Validity
• verb
To make or become brighter or less dark in color or illumination.
"The eastern sky began to lighten as the sun rose over the horizon."
To make or become less serious, gloomy, or oppressive in mood, worry, or distress.
"A timely joke helped to lighten the tense atmosphere in the conference room."
To reduce the physical weight or load of something.
"The hikers decided to lighten their backpacks by leaving behind extra camping gear."
Word Nuance & Usage
Do not confuse the verb 'lighten' (to make less heavy or more bright) with the noun 'lightning' (an electrical discharge in the sky), although 'lighten' can also mean to flash with lightning in literary usage.
• Rhymes for lighten
Word Origin & Etymology
Formed in Middle English from the adjective 'light' combined with the verbal suffix '-en', blending two distinct Old English roots: 'leoht' (bright, radiant) and 'leoht' (of little weight).
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.