lighten
1 of 2verb (1)
light·en ˈlī-tᵊn 
lightened; lightening ˈlīt-niŋ
ˈlī-tᵊn-iŋ
transitive verb
1
: to make light or clear : illuminate
2
archaic : enlighten
3
: to make (something, such as a color) lighter
intransitive verb
1
a
archaic : to shine brightly
b
: to grow lighter : brighten
2
: to give out flashes of lightning
lighten
2 of 2verb (2)
lightened; lightening ˈlīt-niŋ
ˈlī-tᵊn-iŋ
transitive verb
1
a
: to relieve of a burden in whole or in part
the news lightened his mind
b
: to reduce in weight or quantity : lessen
c
: to make less wearisome : alleviate
lighten our sorrow
2
: cheer, gladden
intransitive verb
1
: to become lighter or less burdensome
2
: to become more cheerful
Synonyms
Verb (1)
- bathe
- beacon
- emblaze
- illume
- illuminate
- illumine
- irradiate
- light
Verb (2)
- brighten
- buck up
- cheer (up)
- look up
- perk (up)
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Word History
Etymology
Verb (1)
Middle English lightenen, from light
First Known Use
Verb (1)
14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1
Verb (2)
14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a
Phrases Containing lighten
Kids Definition
lighten 1 of 2
verb
light·en ˈlī-tᵊn
lightened; lightening
: to make or become lighter, brighter, or clearer
lighten
2 of 2verb
lightened; lightening
1
: to make or become less heavy
2
: to make less sad or serious
A joke lightened the mood.
lightening 1 of 2
verb (1)
as in brightening
to become glad or hopeful the patient lightened when he heard the disease responds well to treatment Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- brightening
- glowing
- reviving
- looking up
- encouraging
- sparkling
- rejoicing
- beaming
- bucking up
- radiating
- cheering (up)
- perking (up)
- gladdening
- heartening
- livening (up)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- darkening
- saddening
- brooding
- despairing
- fretting
- moping
- desponding
lightening
2 of 2verb (2)
as in illumining
to supply with light the room was gradually lightened by the rising sun Synonyms & Similar Words
- illumining
- lighting
- illuminating
- brightening
- bathing
- irradiating
- illuming
- shining
- beaconing
- emblazing
- glowing
- blinding
- beaming
- highlighting
- radiating
- igniting
- dazzling
- glistening
- floodlighting
- blazing
- gleaming
- kindling
- burning
- haloing
- glittering
- flaming
- incinerating
- enhaloing
- glaring
- dazing
- spotlighting
- beating (down)
- firing
- bedazzling
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- darkening
- blackening
- dimming
- dulling
- obfuscating
- obscuring
- covering
- extinguishing
- quenching
- shrouding
- dousing
- veiling
- dowsing
- snuffing (out)
- putting out