Definitions for: Lighten


[v] become lighter; "The room lightened up"
[v] become brighter; "The sky brightened"
[v] make lighter or brighter; "The paint will brighten the room"
[v] make more cheerful
[v] make more cheerful



Webster (1913) Definition: Light"en (l[imac]t"'n), v. i. [See Light to alight.]
To descend; to light.

O Lord, let thy mercy lighten upon us. --Book of
Common Prayer
[Eng. Ed.].


Light"en (l[imac]t"'n), v. i. [imp. & p. p.
Lightened (-'nd); p. pr. & vb. n. Lightening.] [OE.
lightenen. See Light to kindle, illuminate.]
1. To burst forth or dart, as lightning; to shine with, or
like, lightning; to display a flash or flashes of
lightning; to flash.

This dreadful night, That thunders, lightens, opens
graves, and roars As doth the lion. --Shak.

2. To grow lighter; to become less dark or lowering; to
brighten; to clear, as the sky.


Light"en, v. t. [See Light to illuminate.]
1. To make light or clear; to light; to illuminate; as, to
lighten an apartment with lamps or gas; to lighten the
streets. [In this sense less common than light.]

A key of fire ran all along the shore, And lightened
all the river with a blaze. --Dryden.

2. To illuminate with knowledge; to enlighten. [In this sense
less common than enlighten.]

Lighten my spirit with one clear heavenly ray. --Sir
J. Davies.

3. To emit or disclose in, or as in, lightning; to flash out,
like lightning.

His eye . . . lightens forth Controlling majesty.
--Shak.

4. To free from trouble and fill with joy.

They looked unto him, and were lightened. --Ps.
xxxiv. 5.


Light"en, v. t. [See Light not heavy.]
1. To make lighter, or less heavy; to reduce in weight; to
relieve of part of a load or burden; as, to lighten a ship
by unloading; to lighten a load or burden.

2. To make less burdensome or afflictive; to alleviate; as,
to lighten the cares of life or the burden of grief.

3. To cheer; to exhilarate.

Lightens my humor with his merry jests. --Shak.

Synonyms: brighten, buoy up, buoy up, lighten up

Antonyms: darken, weigh down, weigh on

See Also: alter, change, cheer, cheer, cheer up, chirk up, illume, illuminate, illumine, irradiate, light, light up, lighten, lighten

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