as in to brighten
to become glad or hopeful
the patient lightened when he heard the disease responds well to treatment
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in to illumine
to supply with light
the room was gradually lightened by the rising sun
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Examples of lighten in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Kyle Thomas, Peoplemag, 23 June 2024
Honey: Honey contains antioxidants that can help lighten freckles.
—Julie Marks Published, Verywell Health, 11 July 2024
By Tuesday, the hurricane center noted that conditions could shift, and a strong subtropical ridge that is expected to keep the storm at lower latitudes could lighten, allowing Beryl to inch into higher latitudes.
—Alex Harris, Miami Herald, 29 June 2024
The lightening bold struck the ground next to the group, and approximately 50 of them felt the shock of it, police said.
—Kinsey Crowley, USA TODAY, 28 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for lighten 
Verb
Luckily, beginning this week until the middle of November, the load could lighten a bit, so be sure to prioritize self-care and a bit more fun!
—Kyle Thomas, Peoplemag, 23 June 2024
Honey: Honey contains antioxidants that can help lighten freckles.
—Julie Marks Published, Verywell Health, 11 July 2024
By Tuesday, the hurricane center noted that conditions could shift, and a strong subtropical ridge that is expected to keep the storm at lower latitudes could lighten, allowing Beryl to inch into higher latitudes.
—Alex Harris, Miami Herald, 29 June 2024
The lightening bold struck the ground next to the group, and approximately 50 of them felt the shock of it, police said.
—Kinsey Crowley, USA TODAY, 28 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for lighten
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'lighten.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Lighten.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lighten. Accessed 5 Aug. 2024.
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