lighten

/ˈlaɪtn/

/ˈlaɪtɪn/

Other forms: lightened; lightening; lightens

To lighten something is to make it brighter or shine a light on it. You can lighten your dark basement room with plenty of lamps and a coat of white paint.

Besides "make lighter or illuminate," another meaning of lighten is "make lighter in weight." So you can lighten your load by taking all the heavy books out of your backpack. Figuratively, "to lighten" is to be more cheerful or relaxed, as in: "She decided to lighten the somber mood in the room by telling a few of her funniest knock-knock jokes."

Definitions of lighten

1. verb

   make lighter or brighter
   synonyms: brighten, lighten up

   type of:

   alter, change, modify

   cause to change; make different; cause a transformation
2. verb

   reduce the weight on; make lighter
   “she lightened the load on the tired donkey”

   type of:

   disburden, unburden

   take the burden off; remove the burden from
3. verb

   become lighter
   “The room lightened up”

   synonyms: lighten up

   antonyms:

   darken

   become dark or darker

   types:

   irradiate

   cast rays of light upon

   illume, illuminate, illumine, light, light up

   make lighter or brighter

   floodlight

   illuminate with floodlights

   spotlight

   illuminate with a spotlight, as in the theater

   type of:

   change

   undergo a change; become different in essence; losing one's or its original nature
4. verb

   make more cheerful
   “the conversation lightened me up a bit”

   synonyms: buoy up, lighten up

   antonyms:

   weigh down

   be oppressive or disheartening to

   type of:

   cheer

   show approval or good wishes by shouting
5. verb

   become more cheerful
   synonyms: buoy up, lighten up

   type of:

   cheer, cheer up, chirk up

   become cheerful
6. verb

   alleviate or remove (pressure or stress) or make less oppressive
   “lighten the burden of caring for her elderly parents”

   synonyms: relieve

   type of:

   mitigate

   make less severe or harsh