lessen
B2Neutral to formal. Common in written and spoken contexts.
Definition
Meaning
To make or become smaller, weaker, or less significant.
To reduce in degree, intensity, amount, or extent; to diminish.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily transitive (to lessen something), but can be used intransitively (the pain lessened). Slightly more formal than 'reduce' or 'lower'. Often implies a gradual or ongoing reduction.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in core meaning or usage.
Connotations
Slightly more common in formal and written British English than in American everyday speech, where 'reduce' or 'lower' might be preferred.
Frequency
More frequent in UK English in formal contexts (legal, academic, medical). In US English, 'reduce' is often a more common choice in business and technical writing.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[NP] lessened.to lessen [NP].to lessen in [quality].Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “lessen the blow”
- “time lessens all wounds”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
'The new policy should lessen our operational costs.' (Focus on reducing quantifiable metrics.)
Academic
'The study aims to lessen the confounding variables.' (Used in methodological descriptions.)
Everyday
'Taking breaks can lessen eye strain.' (Common in advice and practical contexts.)
Technical
'The medication is designed to lessen inflammation.' (Common in medical/engineering contexts.)
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The government is taking measures to lessen the economic burden on families.
- Her anxiety lessened after speaking to a counsellor.
American English
- Regular exercise can lessen your risk of heart disease.
- The storm's intensity finally lessened around midnight.
adverb
British English
- Not applicable for 'lessen'. The related adverb is 'less'.
American English
- Not applicable for 'lessen'. The related adverb is 'less'.
adjective
British English
- Not applicable for 'lessen'. The adjective is 'less' or 'lesser'.
American English
- Not applicable for 'lessen'. The adjective is 'less' or 'lesser'.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The medicine helped lessen my headache.
- They planted trees to lessen the noise from the street.
- Good communication can lessen misunderstandings in a team.
- The company hopes to lessen its environmental impact.
- The agreement was amended to lessen the financial liability of the smaller partner.
- Over time, the vivid memories of the event began to lessen.
- The diplomat's intervention was crucial in lessening tensions between the two states.
- This innovative technique lessens the computational load by several orders of magnitude.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'LESSEN' makes something have LESS of it.
Conceptual Metaphor
QUANTITY/INTENSITY IS SIZE (to make smaller).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid confusing with 'lesson' (урок). They are false friends. 'Lessen' is a verb, not a noun.
- Do not translate as 'делать меньше' in all contexts; for abstract concepts (pain, risk), 'уменьшать', 'ослаблять', 'снижать' are better.
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect: 'We need to lesson the noise.' (Using noun 'lesson').
- Awkward: 'He lessened to work.' (Incorrect complement; requires an object: 'He lessened his workload.')
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is the LEAST suitable collocation for 'lessen'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is neutral but leans towards formal, especially in writing. In casual speech, 'reduce' or 'lower' are often used.
They are often interchangeable. 'Reduce' is more common and has a wider range of use (e.g., reduce speed, reduce to ashes). 'Lessen' is often preferred for abstract, negative, or gradual reductions (pain, tension, impact).
Yes, in its intransitive sense: 'The rain lessened in the afternoon.' 'His influence has lessened over the years.'
There is no direct nominalisation. Use 'reduction', 'decrease', 'diminution', or 'lessening' (though 'lessening' is less common).