to lighten up
6
3.3
- phrasal verb
- /ˈlaɪtən ʌp/
:
aclarar
- So let's just blend this to lighten up this inner portion of the face.
- lighten up the room
- lighten up a little
- lighten things up
Answer that the blusher we use just to lighten this up and complete the look doesn't stick.
- Answer that the blusher we use just to lighten this up and complete the look doesn't stick.
- So let's blend this edge here so that it's softer and bleeds out, and then we're going to lighten up and you'll see how this outside corner blends.
- So I'm just going to use my beauty blender and just kind of dab on the sides to lighten it up a bit.
- It has such a beautiful perfect neutral nude shade Again, this one is amazing for layering because it basically lightens up anything.
- So we're going to be cutting off a bit probably right there and then we're going to lighten her up real good.
Examples
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To make the room feel more inviting, consider installing fixtures that will lighten up the atmosphere.
-
And it definitely lightens up the stress a little being in the water.
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This brush is actually doing a pretty good job and now I am going to lighten up the inner corner.
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Maybe a metal sculpture above the fireplace would lighten up the look too.
Blog text (25) -
So I'm going to take some along my jawline as well, not for coverage, but more so just to lighten up this foundation a little bit.
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Look for geometric prints, handmade artisan designs, and a return to light finishes or pale natural wood finishes to lighten up the overall mood.
Blog text (32) -
Using brighter colors will lighten up the living room and give it a fresh look.
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Adding a few potted plants can really lighten up a dull office space.
Synonyms
66
3.9
To make or become more active and interesting
64
2.5
Begin to shine or make something begin to shine, for example by burning
52
4.1
To make something bright or visible with light
27
2.7
To make a place or thing look more cheerful by adding color
17
2.7
Make a room or person more cheerful
16
2.3
To make a place or color look brighter
9
3.2
To make a place or person more attractive by adding decorations like paint
6
4.1
Make something more active and interesting
4
3.0
Make a room look cleaner and nicer with small changes
1
8.1
To light something or make it easier to understand
1
2.9
Make a room feel more lively and cheerful
1
5.0
Make something look more attractive, often only on the surface
1
8.2
To make something more lively or bright
To make a room feel happier and more lively
Antonyms
How Bright
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning 'to make a place or thing brighter' is directly compositional from 'lighten' (to increase illumination or make colors lighter) plus the particle 'up' which signals increased degree or completion. This verb+particle pattern is common and cross-linguistically transparent, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents would readily infer the MWE's meaning.
Etymology
Lighten up comes from the literal act of making a room brighter: to lighten (make less dark) and up (make it more bright and open). Think of opening the curtains or adding bright pillows, so it means 'make a place brighter or more attractive'.