lighten

1 of 2

verb (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 2

verb (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 of lighten

Verb (1)

• illumine
• illuminate
• light
• brighten

Verb (2)

• brighten

Choose the Right Synonym for lighten

relieve, alleviate, lighten, assuage, mitigate, allay mean to make something less grievous.

relieve implies a lifting of enough of a burden to make it tolerable.

took an aspirin to relieve the pain

alleviate implies temporary or partial lessening of pain or distress.

the lotion alleviated the itching

lighten implies reducing a burdensome or depressing weight.

good news would lighten our worries

assuage implies softening or sweetening what is harsh or disagreeable.

ocean breezes assuaged the intense heat

mitigate suggests a moderating or countering of the effect of something violent or painful.

the need to mitigate barbaric laws

allay implies an effective calming or soothing of fears or alarms.

allayed their fears

Examples of lighten in a Sentence

Verb (1)

the room was gradually lightened by the rising sun

Verb (2)

the patient lightened when he heard the disease responds well to treatment

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Instead, opt for neutral coats of paint, warm lightening schemes, and functional storage. — Ashley Chalmers, The Spruce, 20 July 2026

As a makeup product, it can be used as a primer, highlighter, bronzer, foundation shade adjuster (pick a shade to darken or lighten a complexion product that’s a little bit off), and even a skin tint thanks to its sheer but transformative pigment. — Tamim Alnuweiri, InStyle, 20 July 2026

Yamamoto’s gem not only set up the Dodgers for the win but also lightened the load on a bullpen tasked with covering Game 2. — Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times, 19 July 2026

Outside, as the sky began to lighten, people weren’t in any rush to leave. — Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 18 July 2026

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

• lighten up

Rhymes for lighten

• brighten
• chitin
• frighten
• heighten
• phaeton
• tighten
• titan
• triton
• whiten
• enlighten
• exciton
• periphyton

Kids Definition

lighten

1 of 2 verb

light·​en ˈlīt-ᵊn 

lightened; lightening ˈlīt-niŋ 

-ᵊn-iŋ

1

: to make or become light, lighter, or clear : brighten

2

: to give out flashes of lightning

lightener

ˈlīt-nər 

-ᵊn-ər

noun

lighten

2 of 2 verb

lightened; lightening ˈlīt-niŋ 

-ᵊn-iŋ

: to make or become less heavy or less difficult

lighten a load

lightened her duties

lightener

ˈlīt-nər 

-ᵊn-ər

noun