Pronunciation coach
Lighten
Sounds like
lyetuhn
Tap the speaker to hear the word.
Simple meaning
What does Lighten mean?
Lighten means to make lighter.
Dictionary definition
To make something less heavy, less dark, or less serious.
Example sentences
Lighten in a sentence
easy
We removed books to lighten the backpack.
medium
The paint will lighten as it dries.
hard
A kind joke helped lighten the mood after a difficult moment.
Synonyms
Words like Lighten
brightento make lighter or more cheerful
easeto make less heavy, serious, or difficult
Antonyms
Opposite words
darkento make darker
weigh downto make heavier or more difficult
Word family
Lighten word family
Base word
lighten
verb
lighten
Base form.
verb
lightened
Made lighter in the past.
verb
lightening
Making lighter now.
adjective
light
Not heavy or bright.
Related words
Explore related words
Quick practice
Try Lighten
Practice 1
What does lighten mean?
Lighten means to make lighter.
Practice 2
Which word is an antonym of lighten?
Darken is an opposite when lighten means make brighter or less dark.
Practice 3
Which sentence uses lighten correctly?
This sentence uses lighten to mean make brighter.
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Practice vocabulary in WordHive
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Learning paths
- Define the Word Hive for word meanings.
- Synonym Search for word choice.
- Context Clue Challenge for sentence clues.
- Buzz Between for homophones and listening.
- Hive Builder for roots, prefixes, and suffixes.