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.
lightened 1 of 3
adjective
1
as in brightened
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- brightened
- illuminated
- lit
- illumined
- dazzling
- radiant
- shiny
- lighted
- brilliant
- sunlit
- sunshiny
- sunny
- cloudless
- clear
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- heavy
- dull
- clouded
- darkened
- lowering
- overcast
- cloudy
- hazy
- blackened
- dulled
- dimmed
- dim
- obscured
- dusky
- obscure
- beclouded
- misty
- overclouded
- hazed
- murky
- louring
- darksome
- overshadowed
- bedimmed
- befogged
- sunless
2
as in eased
Synonyms & Similar Words
- eased
- alleviated
- reduced
- lessened
- diminished
- subdued
- decreased
- abated
- moderated
- qualified
- light
- toned (down)
- feeble
- superficial
- shallow
- moderate
- weak
- soft
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- heavy
- intense
- deep
- intensive
- terrible
- profound
- hard
- fearful
- violent
- acute
- explosive
- dreadful
- fierce
- ghastly
- keen
- exquisite
- aggravated
- concentrated
- furious
- excruciating
- frightful
- ferocious
- blistering
- vicious
- fearsome
- vehement
- enhanced
- intensified
- almighty
- deepened
- accentuated
- magnified
- hellacious
- emphasized
- heavy-duty
- heightened
lightened
2 of 3verb (1)
as in glowed
to become glad or hopeful the patient lightened when he heard the disease responds well to treatment Synonyms & Similar Words
- brightened
- glowed
- revived
- looked up
- bucked up
- sparkled
- encouraged
- rejoiced
- beamed
- radiated
- cheered (up)
- perked (up)
- gladdened
- heartened
- livened (up)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- darkened
- saddened
- despaired
- brooded
- fretted
- desponded
- moped
lightened
3 of 3verb (2)
as in illumined
to supply with light the room was gradually lightened by the rising sun Synonyms & Similar Words
- brightened
- illumined
- illuminated
- lit
- lighted
- bathed
- irradiated
- shined
- illumed
- beaconed
- shone
- highlighted
- glowed
- beamed
- emblazed
- glistened
- radiated
- gleamed
- ignited
- haloed
- kindled
- spotlighted
- dazzled
- glittered
- blinded
- floodlit
- enhaloed
- blazed
- glared
- incinerated
- burnt
- floodlighted
- burned
- beat (down)
- spotlit
- flamed
- dazed
- fired
- bedazzled
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- darkened
- dimmed
- blackened
- dulled
- obscured
- covered
- obfuscated
- veiled
- shrouded
- extinguished
- quenched
- doused
- snuffed (out)
- put out
- dowsed
- decorating
- decoratings
- decoration
- Decoration Day
- decorations
- decorative
- decorative art
- decoratively
- decorativeness
- decorativenesses
- decorator
- decorator crab
- decorators
- decore
- general proposition
- general quarters
- general relativity
- general release
- general retainer
- general revelation
- general rule
- general run of
- general san martín
- General Santos
- general science