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lighten JUST WRITTEN FOR YOU

/ˈlaɪ.tən/ · light·en
verb
  1. To make brighter or clearer; to illuminate. The artist used light to lighten the dark corners of the room.
  2. To become brighter or clearer; to brighten. The sun began to lighten the sky as dawn approached.
  3. To burst forth or dart, as lightning; to shine with, or like, lightning; to flash. The lightning lighten the night sky with a brilliant flash of light.
verb
  1. To make something less heavy or serious; to alleviate. The comedian lighten the mood with a joke.
Did you know? The word 'lighten' has been used in various idiomatic expressions, such as 'to lighten the load', which means to make something easier or less burdensome.
Written by Lexi Wordsworth, Dictionary Editor 0 lookups Added Jul 15, 2026