lighten

About 1.10 uses per million words.

Meaning

1. verb To make brighter or clearer; to illuminate.

   to lighten an apartment with lamps or gas; to lighten the streets

2. verb To become brighter or clearer; to brighten.
3. verb To flash lightning, to give off lightning.
4. verb To emit or disclose in, or as if in, lightning; to flash out, like lightning.
5. verb To illuminate with knowledge.
6. verb To alleviate; to reduce the burden of.

   Sorrow can be lightened by being openly brought out.

7. verb To make light or lighter in weight.
8. verb To make less serious or more cheerful.

Similar words

brighten buoy up lighten up enlighten illuminate cut reducing attenuate minimize reduce

Often followed by

the up their his it her your our and

Word family

lightened lightening lightens