Lighten: meaning, definitions and examples

Use this when you want to make something less dark or less severe. This can refer to both physical light and figurative lightness.

• She painted the walls white to lighten the room
• He tried to lighten the mood with a joke

Use this when you want to make something more intense in light or color, or to make a situation more cheerful.

• The new lamps really brighten the living room
• Her smile can brighten anyone's day

Use this when you are talking about making something clear or providing light. It's often used in a more dramatic or formal sense.

• The streetlights illuminate the path at night
• The professor's lecture helped to illuminate the complex topic

Use this when someone is feeling sad or down, and you want to encourage them to feel happier or more positive.

• He bought her flowers to cheer her up after her tough day
• Cheer up, things will get better!

Use when referring to making something physically or emotionally brighter or less heavy. Often used in both literal and figurative contexts.

• The new paint color will lighten the room
• Her smile can lighten anyone's day

Appropriate for situations where making something less severe or less difficult is intended. Commonly used to describe relief from tension, pain, or difficulty.

• This chair is designed to ease back pain
• His kind words helped ease her anxiety

Suitable for talking about reducing pain, stress, or burden. Often used in medical or emotional contexts.

• The medication will alleviate your headache
• This policy could alleviate some of the financial burdens

Best used when discussing reducing size, amount, or intensity. Often used in general contexts.

• We need to lessen our environmental impact
• The doctor recommends exercises to lessen the pain

Used to describe making something less heavy, emotional or physical burdens. Also, can mean making something brighter.

• She tried to lighten the mood with a joke.
• They painted the walls white to lighten the room.

Usually refers to a stationary light source, often used indoors with a frame and a bulb.

• She turned on the lamp to read her book.
• The desk lamp provided enough light for him to work.

Typically used to describe a portable light source, often enclosed in a container with a handle, suitable for use outdoors or during emergencies.

• He carried a lantern while walking through the forest at night.
• The old lantern glowed softly in the cabin.

Can refer to a handheld light source, usually battery-operated in modern contexts or a stick with a flame in historical/ceremonial contexts. In British English, 'torch' is typically used to mean a flashlight.

• The explorer used a torch to light his way through the cave.
• The torch-bearer led the ceremony with a flaming torch.