Lessen
/ˈles.ən/
Definitions
To decrease; to make something smaller or less.
/ˈles.ən/
To make or become less in size, amount, or degree.
The rain began to lessen as the afternoon wore on.
💡 Simply: Imagine you have a big stack of cookies, but you decide to eat some. You're *lessening* the number of cookies! It means to make something smaller or make it go down.
👶 For kids: To make something smaller or go down.
More Examples
She hoped the medication would lessen her anxiety.
We need to lessen the environmental impact of our actions.
How It's Used
"The medicine is supposed to lessen the pain."
"We need to lessen our expenses to improve profitability."
"Reducing carbon emissions will lessen the impact of climate change."
From Old English *læsian*, causative of *lāsa* (less), from Proto-Germanic *laisizą* (less).
Used since Old English times, primarily to indicate a decrease in quantity or intensity.
Memory tip
Think of 'less' - to make something become less.
Word Origin
"to make less"