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Definition of 'lessen'

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lessen

(lɛsən )
Word forms: lessens, lessening, lessened
transitive verb/intransitive verb
If something lessens or you lessen it, it becomes smaller in size, amount, degree, or importance.
He is used to a lot of attention from his wife, which will inevitably lessen when the baby is born.
Synonyms: reduce, lower, diminish, decrease   More Synonyms of lessen
lessening uncountable noun
...increased trade and a lessening of tension on the border.
Synonyms: reduction, decline, decrease, weakening   More Synonyms of lessen
More Synonyms of lessen
COBUILD Advanced English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers

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lessen

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lessen in American English

(ˈlɛsən )
verb transitive
1. 
to make less; decrease
2.  Archaic
to belittle; minimize; disparage
verb intransitive
3. 
to become less
SIMILAR WORDS:  deˈcrease
Webster’s New World College Dictionary, 4th Edition. Copyright © 2010 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. All rights reserved.
Word Frequency

lessen in British English

(ˈlɛsən )
verb
1. 
to make or become less
2. (transitive)
to make little of
Collins English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers

Examples of 'lessen' in a sentence
lessen

These examples have been automatically selected and may contain sensitive content. Read more…
Having a definitive result would lessen the chances of teams being able to contrive an outcome but it would not remove the possibility completely.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Organisations can further reduce waste, cut costs and lessen the environmental impact of their printing simply by adopting smarter print practices.
Computing (2010)
What matters is that manufacturers are doing what they can to lessen their environmental impact.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
It may not be possible to save your marriage but it can lessen the pain.
The Sun (2013)
You also lessen the risk of losing it.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
The military have tried so hard to lessen these effects.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Returns from investment banking are under mounting regulatory pressure but there is also lessening competition.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
There are two ways that anglers often draw unwitting attention to themselves and so lessen their chances.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
This may lessen the impetus to aggressively seek medical help.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
We should also continue lessening the tax burden.
The Sun (2016)
Jumping may lessen the impact but not by enough to matter.
The Sun (2013)
This may well be a price worth paying to lessen the risk of another financial disaster.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
It does not allow mergers that substantially lessen competition.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
The following may help to lessen your anxiety.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
They will understand exactly how you feel and that will lessen your burden.
The Sun (2012)
Either or both will lessen the impact of a positive earnings surprise.
Mitchel Zacks AHEAD OF THE MARKET (2003)
The ambition was to lessen the risk of financial catastrophe.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Most of the adjustments pastors have made to lessen the discouraging effect of sluggish attendance figures are internal.
Christianity Today (2000)
That does not lessen its importance.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
To make this slightly healthier, cut the potatoes into bigger sizes as this will lessen the amount of goose fat absorbed.
The Sun (2013)
Not only do the new arrivals improve the strength of the squad, they lessen the chance of signed us complacency in others.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Although these costs may not behave perfectly, it does not lessen the importance of understanding the nature of costs in improving company efficiency.
Harrison, John Finance for the Non-Financial Manager (1989)
I pay by direct debit - it seems to lessen the pain of this unfair poll tax.
The Sun (2008)
This, the regulator says, could lessen competition between the two chains.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)

Related word partners
lessen
 

lessen an influence
lessen the ability
lessen the effect
lessen the importance of
lessen the intensity
lessen the likelihood of
lessen the need
lessen the pain
lessen the severity of
lessen the shock
lessen the strain
lessen the tension

Trends of
lessen

View usage over:

In other languages
lessen

British English: lessen VERB /ˈlɛsən/
If something lessens or you lessen it, it becomes smaller in size, amount, degree, or importance.
  • American English: lessen /ˈlɛsən/
  • Brazilian Portuguese: diminuir
  • Chinese: 减少
  • European Spanish: disminuir
  • French: diminuer
  • German: nachlassen
  • Italian: diminuire
  • Japanese: 少なくする/少なくなる
  • Korean: 줄어들다
  • European Portuguese: diminuir
  • Spanish: disminuir
  • Thai: ลดลง, ทำให้ลดลง

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lessen

  • less of
  • less than
  • lessee
  • lessen
  • lessen a burden
  • lessen an influence
  • lessen competition

  • All ENGLISH words that begin with 'L'

Related terms of
lessen

  • lessen competition
  • lessen a burden
  • lessen the ability
  • lessen the chance
  • lessen the effect

  • View more related words

Source

Definition of lessen from the Collins English Dictionary
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Which version is correct?
They could only speak pidgin English. They could only speak pigeon English.

coarse or course?

Which version is correct?
 I'd love to take a coarse in French literature.  I'd love to take a course in French literature.

desert or dessert?

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The vehicles have been modified to suit conditions in the desert. The vehicles have been modified to suit conditions in the dessert.

hear or here?

Drag the correct answer into the box.
hear
here
I'd love to   it played by a professional orchestra. 

knead or need?

Which version is correct?
I knead to make a phone call. I need to make a phone call.
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Nov 20, 2021
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an archaic greeting or salutation
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Scrabble score
for 'lessen':
6

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Question: 1
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tail or tale?

Which version is correct?
We fell in love with a black dog with a long tail.  We fell in love with a black dog with a long tale. 

farther or father?

Which version is correct?
My sisters moved even farther away from home. My sisters moved even father away from home.

ring or wring?

Drag the correct answer into the box.
ring
wring
You can   me anytime.

ridden or rode?

Which version is correct?
He ridden to work on a bicycle. He rode to work on a bicycle.

dear or deer?

Drag the correct answer into the box.
dear
deer
Mrs Cavendish is a   friend of mine.
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