Lightened: meaning, definitions and examples

Use this word when referring to making something less heavy or more cheerful.

• She lightened her bag by taking out some books.
• His mood lightened after hearing the good news.

Preferred in formal settings when discussing reducing pain, stress, or difficult situations.

• The medication will help alleviate the patient's pain.
• Efforts were made to alleviate the housing crisis.

Commonly used when making something less difficult or less severe.

• He took deep breaths to ease his anxiety.
• A quick phone call can ease someone's worries.

Utilized when talking about lowering the quantity, size, or intensity of something.

• We need to reduce our expenses this month.
• The new regulations aim to reduce pollution.

Used to talk about removing discomfort, pain, or burden, often creating a feeling of increased comfort.

• The medicine will relieve your headache.
• He was relieved to find out he passed the exam.

Used to describe making something less heavy, but also used interchangeably with 'lightened' as noted previously.

• She lightened the load by removing unnecessary items.
• The sky lightened as the storm passed.

Used when making something lighter or more cheerful, often used to describe lighting up a room, the weather, or improving someone's mood.

• The new paint will brighten up the room.
• His smile seemed to brighten her whole day.

Used when something is made more white or clean, often used in the context of teeth, clothes, or other surfaces.

• She used a special toothpaste to whiten her teeth.
• He wanted to whiten the old, yellowed curtains.

Used to describe a lack of color or brightness, often referring to someone's complexion, or the color of objects. Can imply weakness or illness if referring to a person.

• She looked pale after being sick for a week.
• The walls were painted a pale shade of blue.