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lighten

[ˈlaɪtən]
verb
aliviar
1. to make something less heavy or to reduce weight
I need to lighten my backpack for the hike.
Preciso aliviar o peso da minha mochila para a caminhada.
2. to make something brighter or less dark
The sunrise began to lighten the sky.
O nascer do sol começou a clarear o céu.
3. to make someone's mood or burden less heavy emotionally
A good joke can lighten the mood in a tense room.
Uma boa piada pode aliviar a tensão em uma sala tensa.
4. to reduce the intensity or severity of something
The medicine will lighten your symptoms.
O medicamento vai aliviar seus sintomas.
Synonyms
reducedecreasebrighteneasediminishalleviate
Antonyms
darkendeepenworsenintensifyburdenweigh down

Regional Variations

General Brazilian
aliviar
most common usage across Brazil
Rio de Janeiro
aliviar
standard usage, may use 'tirar o peso' colloquially
São Paulo
aliviar
standard usage, professional context
Portugal
aliviar
standard usage; 'clarear' for brightness context

Related Idioms & Phrases

lighten up - to become less serious or tense
lighten the load - to reduce someone's burden or responsibilities
lighten one's heart - to make someone feel happier or more hopeful
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