lighten[verb]brighten, become light, illuminate, irradiate, light up
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[verb]Synonyms:- ease, allay, alleviate, ameliorate, assuage, lessen, mitigate, reduce, relieve
- cheer, brighten, buoy up, lift, perk up, revive
Antonyms: darken
Contrasted words: depress, oppress, weigh
Related Words: attenuate,
dilute,
extenuate,
thin [TahlilGaran] English Synonym Dictionary ▲
light‧en /ˈlaɪtn/
verb [
Word Family: noun:
light,
lighter,
lighting,
lightness;
adjective:
light,
lighted,
unlit;
verb:
light,
lighten;
adverb:
lightly,
light]
1. [transitive] to reduce the amount of work, worry, debt etc that someone has
Antonym : increaselighten the load/burden/workload
We should hire another secretary to lighten Barbara’s workload.2. [intransitive and transitive] to become brighter or less dark, or to make something brighter etc
Antonym : darken:
As the sky lightened, we were able to see where we were.3. [intransitive and transitive] if you lighten something such as a mood or
atmosphere, or if it lightens, it becomes less sad or serious
lighten the atmosphere/mood/conversation Nora didn’t respond to my attempts to lighten the conversation.4. [intransitive] if someone’s face or expression lightens, they begin to look more cheerful:
His whole face would lighten when anyone mentioned Nancy.5. [intransitive and transitive] to reduce the weight of something, or to become less heavy
6. lighten up spoken used to tell someone not to be so serious about something:
You need to lighten up a bit. [TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲