lighten

• Verbe utilisé pour désigner l'action de réduire le poids, d'éclaircir la couleur ou d'alléger l'humeur, ainsi que pour indiquer que quelque chose devient moins lourd ou moins grave.

A verb used to indicate the act of making something lighter in weight, color, or mood, or to become less heavy or serious.

1. Make more cheerfulB1informal

   To make someone feel happier or less serious.

   égayer

   • Her joke lightened the mood in the room.
   • He tried to lighten the conversation with a funny story.
   • Music can lighten your spirits after a long day.

   Synonymesbrightenbuoy upcheercheer upenlivengladdenliftuplift

   Antonymesburdendarkenoppresssaddenweigh

2. Reduce weightB1formal

   To make something physically lighter or less heavy.

   alléger (réduire le poids)

   • We need to lighten the load before the hike.
   • She lightened her backpack by removing unnecessary items.
   • The truck was lightened by unloading some cargo.

   Synonymesdisburdenunburdenunload

   Antonymesweigh down

3. Become more cheerfulB1informal

   To become happier or less serious.

   s'égayer

   • His mood lightened after hearing the good news.
   • The atmosphere lightened when the music started.
   • She lightened up once she realized the problem was solved.

   Synonymesbrightenbuck upcheer upliven upperk up

   Antonymesdarkendepresssaddenworsen

4. Make lighter or brighterB2formal

   To make something brighter in color or illumination.

   Éclaircir (rendre plus lumineux)

   • The painter lightened the walls with a pale shade.
   • Opening the curtains lightened the entire room.
   • She lightened her hair with a new dye.

   Synonymesbrightenilluminateillumineirradiatelight up

   Antonymesdarkendimobscureshade

5. Become lighterB2formal

   To become brighter or less dark.

   s'éclaircir

   • The sky lightened as the sun rose.
   • The room lightened when the clouds passed.
   • Her complexion lightened after using the cream.

   Synonymesbrightenclearlight up

   Antonymesblackendarkendimshade

6. Alleviate pressure or stressB2formal

   To reduce or remove a burden, pressure, or stress.

   alléger (une pression, un stress)

   • The new policy lightened the workload for employees.
   • Talking to a friend can lighten your emotional burden.
   • Delegating tasks helped lighten the pressure on the manager.

   Synonymesallayalleviateassuagediminisheaselessenmitigatemoderatereducerelieve

   Antonymesburdenloadoppresstaxweigh

Variantes phrasallighten up