Word parts

change

light + -en

Pronunciation

change

Plain form
lighten

Third-person singular
lightens

Past tense
lightened

Past participle
lightened

Present participle
lightening

  1. If you lighten something, you reduce its weight.
  2. If you lighten something, you make it less dark.
    She lightened the room by opening the curtains.
  3. If you lighten something, you make it more cheerful or less serious.
    She lightened the mood by making a joke.