lighten
pronunciation
How to pronounce lighten in British English:
UK [ˈlaɪtn]
How to pronounce lighten in American English:
US [ˈlaɪtn]
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- Verb:
- make more cheerful
- make more cheerful
- make lighter or brighter
- become brighter
- become lighter
Word Origin
- lighten (v.1)
- "to make less heavy," figuratively "to make cheerful," mid-14c., from light (adj.1) + -en (1). Related: Lightened; lightening.
- lighten (v.2)
- "shed light upon, illuminate, brighten," early 14c., from light (n.) -en (1). Meaning "to grow brighter" is late 14c. Of faces, expressions, etc., from 1795. Related: Lightened; lightening.
Example
- 1. If you feel unusually tired , try to lighten your schedule .
- 2. So let 's lighten things up for a second .
- 3. Set the layer style to lighten .
- 4. If you dye your hair and the result is too intense , flat coca cola will help to lighten it .
- 5. What started as an attempt to lighten a dark corner of chinese life has turned into something that looks suspiciously like a witch-hunt .