Pronunciation: /ˈlaɪtən/

Definitions of lighten

verb to make or become lighter in weight or color

Example Sentences

A1 I need to lighten my backpack for the hiking trip.

A2 She used a lighter shade of paint to lighten the room.

B1 The yoga class helped to lighten my mood after a stressful day.

B2 Taking a break from work can help lighten the mental load.

C1 Learning to let go of grudges can lighten the burden on your heart.

C2 Practicing mindfulness meditation can help lighten the mind and increase focus.

adjective comparative form of light, meaning having less weight or being less dark

Example Sentences

A1 The room was dark but when I turned on the lamp, it became much lighter.

A2 She wore a lightened blue dress to the party.

B1 The teacher used humor to lighten the mood in the classroom.

B2 The new paint color in the living room really lightened up the space.

C1 The comedian's jokes never failed to lighten the atmosphere during his performances.

C2 The company's decision to restructure its departments was a move to lighten its financial burden.

Examples of lighten in a Sentence

formal The new regulations aim to lighten the burden on small businesses.

informal Let's add some lemon juice to lighten up the flavor of this dish.

slang I need to lighten my workload before the weekend.

figurative Her laughter never fails to lighten the mood in the room.

Grammatical Forms of lighten

past tense

lightened

plural

lightens

comparative

lighter

superlative

lightest

present tense

lighten

future tense

will lighten

perfect tense

have lightened

continuous tense

is lightening

singular

lighten

positive degree

light

infinitive

to lighten

gerund

lightening

participle

lightening

Origin and Evolution of lighten

First Known Use: 1250 year
Language of Origin: Old English
Story behind the word: The word 'lighten' originated from the Old English word 'līhtan' which means 'to make light or illuminate'.
Evolution of the word: Over time, the word 'lighten' evolved to also mean 'to make less heavy' or 'to alleviate a burden'.