lighten up
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light·en 1
(līt′n)v. light·ened, light·en·ing, light·ens
v.tr.
1.
a. To make light or lighter; illuminate or brighten.
b. To make (a color) lighter.
2. Archaic To enlighten.
v.intr.
1. To become lighter; brighten.
2. To be luminous; shine.
3. To give off flashes of lightning.
light·en 2
(līt′n)v. light·ened, light·en·ing, light·ens
v.tr.
1. To make less heavy: I lightened my backpack by removing a large textbook.
2. To lessen the severity or oppressiveness of: lighten the workload. See Synonyms at relieve.
3. To make less worried or more cheerful: lighten the mood.
v.intr.
Phrasal Verb: 1. To become less in weight.
2. To become less oppressive, troublesome, or severe.
3. To become cheerful: The mood lightened when the party started.
lighten up Informal
To take matters less seriously: Everything will work out fine, so stop worrying and lighten up.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
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Verb | 1. | lighten up - make more cheerful; "the conversation lightened me up a bit" cheer - show approval or good wishes by shouting; "everybody cheered the birthday boy" |
2. | lighten up - become more cheerful; "after a glass of wine, he lightened up a bit" | |
3. | lighten up - make lighter or brighter; "The paint will brighten the room" | |
4. | lighten up - become lighter; "The room lightened up" change - undergo a change; become different in essence; losing one's or its original nature; "She changed completely as she grew older"; "The weather changed last night" irradiate - cast rays of light upon illume, illuminate, illumine, light, light up - make lighter or brighter; "This lamp lightens the room a bit" |
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