lighten: Meaning and Definition of

light•en

1. to become lighter or less dark; brighten: The sky lightened after the storm.
2. to brighten or light up, as the eyes or features: Her face lightened when she heard the good news.
3. to flash as or like lightning (often used impersonally with it as subject): It thundered and lightened for hours.
4. to shine, gleam, or be bright: steel blades lightening in the sun.

1. to give light to; illuminate: A full moon lightened the road.
2. to brighten (the eyes, features, etc.): A large smile lightened his face.
3. to make lighter or less dark: Add white to lighten the paint.
4. enlighten.
5. to flash or emit like lightning (usually fol. by out, forth, or down): eyes that lightened forth implacable hatred.

light•en

1. to make lighter in weight: to lighten the load on a truck.
2. to lessen the load of or upon: to lighten a cargo ship.
3. to make less burdensome or oppressive; alleviate; mitigate: to lighten taxes; to lighten someone's cares.
4. to cheer or gladden: Such news lightens my heart.

1. to become less severe, stringent, or harsh; ease up: Border inspections have lightened recently.
2. to become less heavy, cumbersome, burdensome, oppressive, etc.: His worries seem to have lightened somewhat.
3. to become less gloomy; perk up: People's spirits usually lighten when spring arrives.