lessen meaning
lessen :
to reduce, to make smaller
Verb
▪ They tried to lessen the noise.
▪ They tried to reduce the noise.
▪ The doctor gave medicine to lessen the pain.
▪ The doctor gave medicine to reduce the pain.
paraphrasing
▪ decrease – to make less
▪ diminish – to make smaller
▪ reduce – to make less
▪ lower – to bring down
Pronunciation
lessen [ˈlɛs.ən]
The stress is on 'less' and sounds like 'les-uhn'.
Common phrases and grammar about lessen
lessen - Common meaning
Verb
to reduce, to make smaller
Part of Speech Changes for "lessen"
▪ lessening (noun) – the act of making smaller
▪ lessened (adjective) – made smaller or reduced
Common Expressions with "lessen"
▪ lessen the impact – to reduce the effect
▪ lessen the risk – to reduce the chance
▪ lessen the burden – to make the load lighter
▪ lessen the tension – to reduce the stress
Important examples of lessen in TOEIC
Vocabulary examples from the TOEIC test
In TOEIC vocabulary questions, lessen is often used to mean reducing something negative.
Example of a confusing word: lesson (a teaching session)
Grammar examples from the TOEIC test
Lessen is used as a transitive verb, often appearing in questions to show the action of reducing something.
lessen
Idioms and fixed expressions in TOEIC
lessen the blow
'reduce the impact', used to describe making a situation less severe.
lessen the gap
means 'to reduce the difference', often used in discussions about equality.
Differences between similar words and lessen
lessen
,
decrease
differences
Lessen is used to make something smaller or weaker, while decrease is often used for numbers or amounts.
lessen
,
reduce
differences
Lessen is often used for abstract things like pain or stress, while reduce can be used for both abstract and physical things.
Words with the same origin as lessen
The origin of lessen
The word 'lessen' comes from the Old English 'lǣsian', meaning to make less.
Word structure
It has the root 'less' meaning smaller or fewer, and the suffix 'en' which makes it a verb.
Words with the same origin
The root of lessen is less (smaller or fewer). Words with the same root include lesser (smaller) and least (smallest).
