LESSEN

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does lessen mean? 

• LESSEN (verb)
  The verb LESSEN has 3 senses:

1. decrease in size, extent, or range

2. make smaller

3. wear off or die down

  Familiarity information: LESSEN used as a verb is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• LESSEN (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they lessen    ... he / she / it lessens   
Past simple: lessened   
Past participle: lessened   
-ing form: lessening   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Decrease in size, extent, or range

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Synonyms:

decrease; diminish; fall; lessen

Context example:

his voice fell to a whisper

Hypernyms (to "lessen" is one way to...):

change magnitude (change in size or magnitude)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "lessen"):

shrink; shrivel (decrease in size, range, or extent)

decrescendo (grow quieter)

decelerate; retard; slow; slow down; slow up (lose velocity; move more slowly)

wane (become smaller)

wane (decrease in phase)

decline; go down; wane (grow smaller)

thin out (become sparser)

shorten (become short or shorter)

depreciate; devaluate; devalue; undervalue (lose in value)

de-escalate (diminish in size, scope, or intensity)

remit (diminish or abate)

dwindle; dwindle away; dwindle down (become smaller or lose substance)

abate; die away; let up; slack; slack off (become less in amount or intensity)

deflate (become deflated or flaccid, as by losing air)

break (diminish or discontinue abruptly)

taper (diminish gradually)

drop off (fall or diminish)

fly; vanish; vaporize (decrease rapidly and disappear)

break (fall sharply)

ease off; ease up; flag; slacken off (become less intense)

weaken (become weaker)

boil down; concentrate; decoct; reduce (be cooked until very little liquid is left)

contract; shrink (become smaller or draw together)

shrink; shrivel; shrivel up; wither (wither, as with a loss of moisture)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s

Sense 2

Meaning:

Make smaller

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Synonyms:

decrease; lessen; minify

Context example:

He decreased his staff

Hypernyms (to "lessen" is one way to...):

alter; change; modify (cause to change; make different; cause a transformation)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "lessen"):

belittle; diminish (lessen the authority, dignity, or reputation of)

relax; slack; slack up; slacken (make less active or fast)

cut (have a reducing effect)

bring down; cut; cut back; cut down; reduce; trim; trim back; trim down (cut down on; make a reduction in)

minimise; minimize (make small or insignificant)

de-escalate; step down; weaken (reduce the level or intensity or size or scope of)

lour; lower; turn down (make lower or quieter)

abate; slack; slake (make less active or intense)

abbreviate; abridge; contract; cut; foreshorten; reduce; shorten (reduce in scope while retaining essential elements)

reduce; shrink (reduce in size; reduce physically)

boil down; concentrate; reduce (cook until very little liquid is left)

circumscribe; confine to; limit (restrict or confine within limits)

pare; pare down (decrease gradually or bit by bit)

mitigate (make less severe or harsh)

suppress (lessen to the point of stopping)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

Sense 3

Meaning:

Wear off or die down

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Synonyms:

lessen; subside

Context example:

The pain subsided

Hypernyms (to "lessen" is one way to...):

weaken (become weaker)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s

 Context examples 

Blocking serotonin may help lessen nausea and vomiting.

(Anzemet, NCI Dictionary)

Aloxi blocks the action of the chemical serotonin in the brain, which may help lessen nausea and vomiting.

(Aloxi, NCI Dictionary)

They may also lessen certain side effects caused by some cancer treatments.

(Biological response modifier therapy, NCI Dictionary)

The use of the body's immune system, either directly or indirectly, to fight cancer or to lessen side effects that may be caused by some cancer treatments.

(Biological response modifier therapy, NCI Thesaurus)

Also used to lessen certain side effects that may be caused by some cancer treatments.

(Biological therapy, NCI Dictionary)

A new study shows that drugs like aspirin may lessen the adverse effects of air pollution exposure on lung function.

(Aspirin Could Cut Air Pollution Harms, The Titi Tudorancea Bulletin)

That could mean that global climate models may overstate the ability of terrestrial ecosystems to lessen the impacts of climate change.

(Clues found on how soils may respond to climate change, National Science Foundation)

Anne's good-will, however, was not to be lessened by what she heard.

(Persuasion, by Jane Austen)

“But it must very materially lessen their chance of marrying men of any consideration in the world,” replied Darcy.

(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)

I saw you like a speck on a white track, lessening every moment.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)