lighten
/ˈlaɪ.tn̩/ verb C2- To alleviate; to reduce the burden of. · Sorrow can be lightened by being openly brought out.· Many hands lighten the workload.
- To make light or lighter in weight.
- To make less serious or more cheerful.
- To become light or lighter in weight.
- To become less serious or more cheerful.
Plural lighten · He/she/it lightens · Past lightened · Past participle lightened · -ing form lightening
Verb forms
- Base form
- lighten
- He/she/it
- lightens
- Past
- lightened
- Past participle
- lightened
- -ing form
- lightening
Phrasal verbs and expressions
From the library
The grasshoppers and sparrows entreated him not to cut down the tree that sheltered them, but to spare it, and they would sing to him and lighten his labours.
Other matches
Learn lighten in real texts
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