Idiom idiom
lighten up
Meaning
To make (something) or to become less serious and more cheerful or casual; to relax.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Examples
“You should lighten up and enjoy the party.”
“He was so stressed about the presentation that his friend told him to lighten up and take a break.”
“Although the situation was grave, she urged her colleagues to lighten up, reminding them that excessive worry would only hinder their progress.”
Anchors to
Last updated August 10, 2026