lightened; lightening
ˈlīt-niŋ 
ˈlī-tᵊn-iŋ
1
: to make light or clear : illuminate
2
archaic
: enlighten
3
: to make (something, such as a color) lighter
Synonyms
Examples of lighten in a Sentence
Verb (1)
the room was gradually lightened by the rising sun
Verb (2)
the patient lightened when he heard the disease responds well to treatment
Recent Examples on the Web
Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 29 Oct. 2024
Baking Soda And Dish Soap When trying to remove or lighten stains that are already set on your Pyrex dish, a combination of a gentle abrasive cleanser and a little elbow grease with a plastic or nylon scrubby (never steel wool) can work wonders.
—Sheri Castle, Southern Living, 27 Oct. 2024
While Google Wallet can help lighten your physical card load, it's still recommended to carry physical passports and IDs as backups.
—Bill Hardekopf, Forbes, 18 Oct. 2024
Shortly after the event resumed, a second spectator had a medical emergency and Trump decided to end the event and asked his producers to play music to lighten the mood.
—David Jackson, USA TODAY, 15 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for lighten 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Verb
Hydrogen peroxide may lighten dark spots; however, use it sparingly.
—Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 29 Oct. 2024
Baking Soda And Dish Soap When trying to remove or lighten stains that are already set on your Pyrex dish, a combination of a gentle abrasive cleanser and a little elbow grease with a plastic or nylon scrubby (never steel wool) can work wonders.
—Sheri Castle, Southern Living, 27 Oct. 2024
While Google Wallet can help lighten your physical card load, it's still recommended to carry physical passports and IDs as backups.
—Bill Hardekopf, Forbes, 18 Oct. 2024
Shortly after the event resumed, a second spectator had a medical emergency and Trump decided to end the event and asked his producers to play music to lighten the mood.
—David Jackson, USA TODAY, 15 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for lighten
Dictionary Entries Near lighten
Cite this Entry
“Lighten.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lighten. Accessed 29 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share