lightening 1 of 2

verb (1)

present participle of lighten
as in brightening
to become glad or hopeful the patient lightened when he heard the disease responds well to treatment

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

lightening

2 of 2

verb (2)

present participle of lighten
as in illuminating
to supply with light the room was gradually lightened by the rising sun

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of lightening
Verb
Prescription and over-the-counter skin products, especially retinoids, exfoliating acids, acne treatments, and lightening products. — Malana Vantyler, Miami Herald, 6 Oct. 2026 But lightening the blame hits a road bump with the word prevention. — Marie Lisette Rimer, Hartford Courant, 26 Sep. 2026 When temperatures exceed 110°F, passenger planes must consider lightening their loads. — John Vaillant, Time, 8 Aug. 2026 This sleek style delivers, adding a rich-looking touch to casual looks and complementing dressier outfits while lightening my load on the go. — Tanya Sharma, PEOPLE, 30 July 2026 See what the experts had to say about lightening your hair without bleach below. — Audrey Noble, Vogue, 28 July 2026 Instead, opt for neutral coats of paint, warm lightening schemes, and functional storage. — Ashley Chalmers, The Spruce, 20 July 2026 The minimization regimen is also effective at lightening the price tag, cutting an even $11K off the base price as compared to the Bambi 16RB. — New Atlas, 11 July 2026 Get bangs like no other and still avoid bulk with the help of lightening layers. — Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 16 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lightening
  1. brightening
  2. illuminating
  3. lighting
Verb
  • From setting up special meals to just brightening days with smiles and genuine care, the staff here lift the already luxury experience to the next level.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026
  • Here, the exclusive tech is enhanced with firming peptides, caffeine, and marine ferment, plus brightening kakudu plum extract.
    — Jenny Berg, Vogue, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of brightening
Verb
  • Fayet later moved into illustration, illuminating works of poetry and even a book for his grandchildren.
    — Julie Coe, Architectural Digest, 20 Oct. 2026
  • All four movies exhibit Mackenzie’s knack for trenchant social and political commentary slightly heightened by his elegance as a dramatist and visceral genre filmmaker, and all are accompanied by illuminating supplements.
    — Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of illuminating
Verb
  • Rather than lighting an entire room, try task lighting like reading lamps, under-the-cabinet light strips, and desk lamps that illuminate a workspace.
    — Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 17 Oct. 2026
  • The interiors mix traditional details with more modern, glamorous touches, including oak floors, custom wallpaper, and lighting by Armani, Ralph Pucci, and Allison Berger.
    — Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of lighting

Browse Nearby Words

lightened
lightening
lightens
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Lightening.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lightening. Accessed 21 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of jilt

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Can' vs. 'May'

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

More Commonly Mispronounced Words

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Did 'orange' the fruit or the color come first?

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
artwork of illustrated limes with the text limes and smile with an arrow connecting the two words
Quiz: Spot the Anagram! Scramble these words to find new words with the e...
See All