to lighten

Examples

• All

• So why not lighten your load and let it go?

  Evan Carmichael

• Depression over Jellie's leaving was momentarily lightened by several strong performances in both the decision-making and quantitative methods courses.

  Fiction book (1993)

• Let me lighten your load and grab that for you.

  Isn't It Romantic (2019)

• Well, this should lighten your load.

  Enemy of the State (1998)

• Sometimes it seems I have no one but you to lighten my burden.

  W.E. (2011)

• Perhaps these students can assist them in ways that will help lighten their teaching load.

  Academic text (1996)

• Well, good news is I'm here to lighten your workload.

  Rust Creek (2019)

• Let me lighten this small portion of your burden, as you have lightened mine.

  Fiction book (1994)

• Manring and another researcher are seeking to lighten that load.

  Academic text (2007)

• There's nothing like a good laugh now and then to lighten the burdens of the day.

  The Manchurian Candidate (1962)

Synonyms

E

to ease

vsto lighten

305 2.1

To make something less painful or difficult

also applies to lowering physical weight as well as easing feelings

R

to relieve

vsto lighten

166 2.3

Make pain, stress, or worry less

also includes removing physical load as well as easing emotions

M

to modify

vsto lighten

66 3.5

Make something less strong or harsh

here it tends to focus specifically on removing weight or burdens

S

to soften

vsto lighten

50 3.1

Make something less strong or harsh

focuses more on weight or burden reduction rather than gentleness

T

to tone down

vsto lighten

44 3.7

To make something less strong, for example a sound, color or feeling

is broader, also used for lowering physical weight and burdens

L

to lessen

vsto lighten

34 2.8

To make something smaller in amount or strength

also specifically covers making physical loads lighter or removing weight

A

to attenuate

vsto lighten

9 7.9

To make something weaker, like sound or light

includes reducing burdens or actual heaviness as well as weakening properties

S

to soften the blow

vsto lighten

• Informal

8 4.7

Make bad news or a loss easier to accept

is broader, also meaning to reduce physical heaviness or burden

U

to unburden

vsto lighten

6 4.9

To remove a heavy load from someone, physical or emotional, often by talking

covers physical load removal too, not only emotional relief

S

to slacken

vsto lighten

1 5.5

Become or make less tight, like a rope

is used more for reducing weight or relieving pressure than looseness

L

to lenify

vsto lighten

• Archaic

9.9

To make someone feel calmer or less angry

focuses on lowering burden or heaviness rather than gentleness

U

to unweight

vsto lighten

7.9

Make something lighter by taking out heavy items

also includes easing emotional burdens and nonphysical relief

C

to chase away the gloom

vsto lighten

5.5

Make someone feel less sad and more cheerful

is more general, covering physical weight removal as well as mood

L

to lighten tensions

vsto lighten

4.1

Make a tense situation calmer

extends to reducing physical heaviness and personal burdens as well

Antonyms

B

to burden

77 3.7

To give someone a heavy load or a difficult task

W

to weigh down

4 3.6

Make something heavier so it bends or sinks

Idioms

L

to lighten one's purse

• Archaic

8.3

To spend a lot of money and have less left

Phrasal Verbs

L

to lighten up

• Informal

69 4.1

To become or make someone feel more cheerful and relaxed

L

to lighten up

6 3.3

To make a room or object look brighter and more cheerful

L

to lighten tensions

4.1

Make a tense situation calmer

How Heavy

to free

12 1.0

to relieve

166 2.3

to lighten

26 2.5

to ease

305 2.1

to reduce

∞ 1.6

Surface Forms

Morphology

Etymology