Lighten vs Downplay - What's the difference?
lighten | downplay |
To alleviate; to reduce the burden of.
To make light or lighter in weight.
To make less serious or more cheerful.
* Bible, Psalms xxxiv. 5
To make brighter or clearer; to illuminate.
* Dryden
To become light or lighter in weight.
To become less serious or more cheerful.
To become brighter or clearer; to brighten.
To burst forth or dart, as lightning; to shine with, or like, lightning; to flash.
* Shakespeare
To emit or disclose in, or as if in, lightning; to flash out, like lightning.
* Shakespeare
To descend; to light.
* Book of Common Prayer
To illuminate with knowledge; to enlighten.
* Sir J. Davies
To de-emphasize; to present or portray as less important or consequential.
In lang=en terms the difference between lighten and downplay
is that lighten is to emit or disclose in, or as if in, lightning; to flash out, like lightning while downplay is to de-emphasize; to present or portray as less important or consequential.As verbs the difference between lighten and downplay
is that lighten is to alleviate; to reduce the burden of while downplay is to de-emphasize; to present or portray as less important or consequential.lighten
English
Verb
(en verb)- They looked unto him, were lightened .
- to lighten''' an apartment with lamps or gas; to '''lighten the streets
- A key of fire ran all along the shore, / And lightened all the river with a blaze.
- This dreadful night, / That thunders, lightens , opens graves, and roars / As doth the lion.
- His eye lightens forth / Controlling majesty.
- O Lord, let thy mercy lighten upon us.
- Lighten my spirit with one clear heavenly ray.
Conjugation
(en-conj-simple)Derived terms
* lighten updownplay
English
Alternative forms
* play downVerb
(en verb)- He would sometimes downplay his Princeton education by saying simply that he went to school in New Jersey.