lighten up

verb

lightened up; lightening up; lightens up

intransitive verb

: to take things less seriously

Examples of lighten up in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Read the full Capricorn Daily Horoscope Aquarius (January 20 - February 18) Need to lighten up? Usa Today, USA Today, 29 Apr. 2025 Director Jared Hess thinks everyone needs to lighten up. Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 11 Apr. 2025 Covering up that much of the dark wood floor lightened up the space a lot. Meghan Holloran, Better Homes & Gardens, 29 May 2025 But even Buffett has been lightening up on some big U.S. market positions, while adding to more of his more recent bets on Japan. Eric Rosenbaum, CNBC, 18 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for lighten up

Word History

First Known Use

1911, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of lighten up was in 1911

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Cite this Entry

“Lighten up.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lighten%20up. Accessed 28 Jun. 2025.

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