noun

lightening

LEYE-tn-ihng

noun

The act or process of making something brighter or lighter in weight.

"Skin lightening products are heavily regulated in some countries."

The sensation of a pregnant woman's baby dropping lower into the pelvis shortly before labor.

"She noticed the lightening a few weeks before her due date."

How to Use Lightening

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishThe process of becoming lighter (in color, weight, or mood) — or, in pregnancy, the baby settling lower.

Common mistake

Don't confuse with "lightning," the electrical flash in a storm — they are spelled differently and mean different things.

Easily confused with

lightning →

lightenings plural

Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.

Can you complete this real example?

Skin _____ products are heavily regulated in some countries.

The noun form of the verb lighten, formed with the -ing suffix.

evening opening widening awakening happening weakening deafening maddening listening gardening sickening fattening