Hello, you have come here looking for the meaning of the word
lighten up. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
lighten up, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
lighten up in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
lighten up you have here. The definition of the word
lighten up will help you to be more precise and correct when speaking or writing your texts. Knowing the definition of
lighten up, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.
English
Pronunciation
Verb
lighten up (third-person singular simple present lightens up, present participle lightening up, simple past and past participle lightened up)
- (idiomatic, intransitive, transitive) To make (something) or to become less serious and more cheerful or casual; to relax.
- Coordinate term: chill out
I wish he'd lighten up a bit and realize that we were only joking.
The mood at work has been tense, so he's looking for ways to lighten it up.
1983 August 6, Michael Bronski, “Gay Sensibility, Straight Imitation”, in Gay Community News, page 8:Sondheim's sense of life — which is pretty pessimistic (I don't think that anyone ever ends happily ever after in a Sondheim musical) — is brought through without trying to lighten it up.
2008, Adele, First Love:you lighten up my heart when I start to cry
- (transitive) To lighten (something): to decrease its weight.
- Near-synonym: slim down
He can't get any more power out of it [his drag racer], so now he's looking for ways to lighten it up.
Translations