lighten1

[lahyt-n] /ˈlaɪt n/
verb (used without object)
1.
to become lighter or less dark; brighten:
The sky lightened after the storm.
2.
to brighten or light up, as the eyes or features:
Her face lightened when she heard the good news.
3.
to flash as or like lightning (often used impersonally with it as subject):
It thundered and lightened for hours.
4.
Archaic. to shine, gleam, or be bright:
steel blades lightening in the sun.
verb (used with object)
5.
to give light to; illuminate:
A full moon lightened the road.
6.
to brighten (the eyes, features, etc.):
A large smile lightened his face.
7.
to make lighter or less dark:
Add white to lighten the paint.
8.
Obsolete, enlighten.
9.
Obsolete. to flash or emit like lightning (usually followed by out, forth, or down):
eyes that lightened forth implacable hatred.
Origin
1300-50; Middle English lightnen; see light1, -en1
Related forms
lightener, noun

lighten2

[lahyt-n] /ˈlaɪt n/
verb (used with object)
1.
to make lighter in weight:
to lighten the load on a truck.
2.
to lessen the load of or upon:
to lighten a cargo ship.
3.
to make less burdensome or oppressive; alleviate; mitigate:
to lighten taxes; to lighten someone's cares.
4.
to cheer or gladden:
Such news lightens my heart.
verb (used without object)
5.
to become less severe, stringent, or harsh; ease up:
Border inspections have lightened recently.
6.
to become less heavy, cumbersome, burdensome, oppressive, etc.:
His worries seem to have lightened somewhat.
7.
to become less gloomy; perk up:
People's spirits usually lighten when spring arrives.
Origin
1350-1400; Middle English lightnen; see light2, -en1
Synonyms
3. ease, lessen, reduce.
Antonyms
3. aggravate.
Examples from the web for lighten
  • Of course, you could lighten your load if you decided to share.
  • lighten your load on the planet with a more efficient dryer and greener detergent.
  • It works for me as a great in-between device that will lighten my load in many cases.
  • Some departments will need new faculty members in order to lighten the teaching load and still offer enough courses.
  • For generations, tinkerers have been pointing out how much their projects will lighten the load of housework.
  • And bird bones are hollow and seem delicate, which should help lighten the load.
  • Lastly, in my view, the only other option left is to get some people permanently off of this rock to lighten the load.
  • Travis decides to lighten his load by dumping the gravel.
  • Private companies can also lighten the load of space costs on governments.
  • lighten the load to be lifted by encouraging employer to purchase smaller and therefore lighter cartons of stock.
British Dictionary definitions for lighten

lighten1

/ˈlaɪtən/
verb
1.
to become or make light
2.
(intransitive) to shine; glow
3.
(intransitive) (of lightning) to flash
4.
(transitive) an archaic word for enlighten

lighten2

/ˈlaɪtən/
verb
1.
to make or become less heavy
2.
to make or become less burdensome or oppressive; mitigate
3.
to make or become more cheerful or lively
Word Origin and History for lighten
v.

"to make less heavy," figuratively "to make cheerful," mid-14c., from light (adj.1) + -en (1). Related: Lightened; lightening.

"shed light upon, illuminate, brighten," early 14c., from light (n.) -en (1). Meaning "to grow brighter" is late 14c. Of faces, expressions, etc., from 1795. Related: Lightened; lightening.