What does "lighten" mean?

To make brighter or clearer; to illuminate.

What is a synonym for "lighten"?

Common synonyms include: brighten, relieve, abate, aid, alight, allay.

//ˈlaɪ.tn̩// verb

verb ·Common ·High school level

Verb

1
To make brighter or clearer; to illuminate. transitive
"to lighten an apartment with lamps or gas; to lighten the streets"
2
To alleviate; to reduce the burden of. transitive
"Sorrow can be lightened by being openly brought out."
3
To descend; to light.
"Book of Common Prayer O Lord, let thy mercy lighten upon us."
4
alleviate or remove (pressure or stress) or make less oppressive wordnet
5
To become brighter or clearer; to brighten. intransitive

Show 12 more definitions

6
To make light or lighter in weight. transitive
7
become lighter wordnet
8
To flash lightning, to give off lightning. archaic, intransitive
"Enter the Conjurer; it lightens and thunders […]"
9
To make less serious or more cheerful. transitive
"They looked unto him, were lightened: and their faces were not ashamed."
10
make more cheerful through the use of color wordnet
11
To emit or disclose in, or as if in, lightning; to flash out, like lightning. transitive
"[…] behold his eye, As bright as is the eagle’s, lightens forth Controlling majesty:"
12
To become light or lighter in weight. intransitive
13
become more cheerful wordnet
14
To illuminate with knowledge. archaic
"O Light which mak’st the Light, which makes the Day, Which setst the Eye without and Mind within, Lighten my spirit with one cleare heavenly ray, Which now to view it selfe doth first begin."
15
To become less serious or more cheerful. intransitive
16
reduce the weight on; make lighter wordnet
17
make more cheerful wordnet