Definition of Lighten up

1. Verb. Make more cheerful. "The conversation lightened me up a bit"

Exact synonyms: Buoy Up, Lighten
Generic synonyms: Cheer
Causes: Buoy Up, Lighten
Antonyms: Weigh Down

2. Verb. Become more cheerful. "After a glass of wine, he lightened up a bit"
Exact synonyms: Buoy Up, Lighten
Generic synonyms: Cheer, Cheer Up, Chirk Up

3. Verb. Make lighter or brighter. "The paint will brighten the room"
Exact synonyms: Brighten, Lighten
Generic synonyms: Alter, Change, Modify
Antonyms: Darken

4. Verb. Become lighter. "The room lightened up"
Exact synonyms: Lighten
Generic synonyms: Change
Specialized synonyms: Irradiate, Illume, Illuminate, Illumine, Light, Light Up
Antonyms: Darken

Definition of Lighten up

1. Verb. (idiomatic) To become less serious and more cheerful or casual; to relax. ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Lexicographical Neighbors of Lighten Up

lightbars
lightboard
lightboards
lightbox
lightboxes
lightbulb
lightbulbs
lightclock
lightcone
lightcones
lightcurve
lightcurves
lighted
lighten
lighten someone's purse
lighten up
lightened
lightened up
lightener
lighteners
lightening
lightening up
lightenings
lightens
lightens up
lighter
lighter-than-air
lighter-than-air craft
lighter fluid
lighterage

Literary usage of Lighten up

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. Spiritualism by John Worth Edmonds, George T. Dexter, Nathaniel Pitcher Tallmadge (1853)
"Now we feel its genial influence; now we walk in the glorious beams which lighten up life and death, and send its rays even into eternity. ..."

2. Modern Painter's Cyclopedia by Frederick Maire (1918)
"Venetian red, lampblack, lighten up to suit with white lead. ... Extra light chrome green just as it comes from the can or lighten up the light chrome green ..."

3. A Zulu-English Dictionary with Notes on Pronunciation: With Notes on by Alfred T. Bryant (1905)
"lighten up ... lighten up, make bright with light, illuminate, as lightning does in the heavens f= ..."

4. Eliza Cook's journal by Eliza Cook (1850)
"... And I'll keep it in my heart, when I'm far away at sea ; It will lighten up my watch, ... It will lighten up my watch, ..."

5. Modern Pigments and Their Vehicles: Their Properties and Uses Considered by Frederick Maire (1907)
"Tuscan red for base; add orange chrome yellow; lamp black; lighten up to suit with ... Medium chrome yellow for base; raw umber; lighten up with white lead. ..."

6. Rigveda Brahmanas: The Aitareya and Kauṣītaki Brāhmaṇas of the Rigveda by Arthur Berriedale Keith (1920)
"... able to drink after;2 therefore 'Do ye lighten up the kindled ... they should lighten up, it should be light as it were, they should lie snoring; ..."

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