Lightening vs. Lightning — What's the Difference?
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Fiza Rafique — Updated on November 2, 2023
Lightening means making something lighter or less heavy. Lightning is a natural electrical discharge in the atmosphere.
Difference Between Lightening and Lightning
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Key Differences
Lightening refers to the act of reducing weight or becoming less heavy. It can also mean to make less dark or to brighten. This word is a gerund or present participle form of the verb "to lighten." In contrast, lightning is a meteorological phenomenon where a sudden electrical discharge occurs during a storm, resulting in a bright flash and, typically, thunder.
The term lightening can be used metaphorically, such as in easing emotions or reducing burdens. On the other side, lightning is purely physical and can never be used metaphorically. It signifies a powerful natural force, rather than any abstract or emotional alleviation.
When discussing lightening, one may often think of adjusting the load in a backpack or lightening one's hair with dye. In discussions about lightning, the focus is on the natural event that occurs, which can be both awe-inspiring and dangerous, leading to discussions on safety during storms.
Lightening can apply to both tangible and intangible contexts, such as lightening a room with lamps or lightening the mood of a conversation. Lightning, however, always refers to the same natural occurrence and is associated with specific weather conditions, having no alternate uses or meanings.
In practical usage, lightening can be a gradual process, while lightning is instantaneous, occurring in a flash. This reflects the different natures of these words: one a verb form related to change over time, the other a noun signifying a quick and powerful event.
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Comparison Chart
Part of Speech
Verb (gerund/participle)
Noun
Meaning
Making lighter or less heavy
Electrical discharge during a storm
Usage
Can be metaphorical or literal
Always literal
Context
Broad (physical, emotional, visual)
Specific (weather-related)
Association
Gradual change
Instantaneous event
Compare with Definitions
Lightening
Reducing the weight of something.
Lightening the backpack made the hike much easier.
Lightning
A bright, sudden flash during a thunderstorm.
Lightning illuminated the night sky.
Lightening
Easing of pressure or burden.
A good laugh has a lightening effect on the spirit.
Lightning
A powerful weather phenomenon associated with thunder.
The sound of thunder followed the lightning strike.
Lightening
Diminishing in intensity or severity.
The counselor's words had a lightening effect on the mood.
Lightning
An atmospheric discharge of electricity.
Lightning can strike the tallest objects during a storm.
Lightening
Becoming brighter or more illuminated.
Dawn is lightening the sky.
Lightning
A natural electrical discharge in the sky.
The storm was intense, with lightning flashing every few minutes.
Lightening
A drop in the level of the uterus during the last weeks of pregnancy as the head of the fetus engages in the pelvis.
Lightning
Lightning is a naturally occurring electrostatic discharge during which two electrically charged regions, both in the atmosphere or with one on the ground, temporarily equalize themselves, causing the instantaneous release of as much as one gigajoule of energy. This discharge may produce a wide range of electromagnetic radiation, from very hot plasma created by the rapid movement of electrons, to brilliant flashes of visible light in the form of black-body radiation.
Lightening
To make light or lighter; illuminate or brighten.
Lightning
An abrupt, discontinuous natural electric discharge in the atmosphere.
Lightening
To make (a color) lighter.
Lightning
The visible flash of light accompanying such a discharge.
Lightening
(Archaic) To enlighten.
Lightning
(Informal) A sudden, usually improbable stroke of fortune.
Lightening
To become lighter; brighten.
Lightning
To discharge a flash of lightning.
Lightening
To be luminous; shine.
Lightning
Moving or occurring with remarkable speed or suddenness.
Lightening
To give off flashes of lightning.
Lightning
A flash of light produced by short-duration, high-voltage discharge of electricity within a cloud, between clouds, or between a cloud and the earth.
Although we did not see the lightning, we did hear the thunder.
Lightening
To make less heavy
I lightened my backpack by removing a large textbook.
Lightning
A discharge of this kind.
The lightning was hot enough to melt the sand.
That tree was hit by lightning.
Lightening
To lessen the severity or oppressiveness of
Lighten the workload.
Lightning
(figuratively) Anything that moves very fast.
Lightening
To make less worried or more cheerful
Lighten the mood.
Lightning
Extremely fast or sudden; moving (as if) at the speed of lightning.
Lightening
To become less in weight.
Lightning
To produce lightning.
Lightening
To become less oppressive, troublesome, or severe.
Lightning
A discharge of atmospheric electricity, accompanied by a vivid flash of light, commonly from one cloud to another, sometimes from a cloud to the earth. The sound produced by the electricity in passing rapidly through the atmosphere constitutes thunder.
Lightening
To become cheerful
The mood lightened when the party started.
Lightning
The act of making bright, or the state of being made bright; enlightenment; brightening, as of the mental powers.
Lightening
The act or result of making something light or lighter.
Lightning
Abrupt electric discharge from cloud to cloud or from cloud to earth accompanied by the emission of light
Lightening
(medicine) The sensation caused by the descent of the uterus into the pelvic cavity before the onset of labour
Lightning
The flash of light that accompanies an electric discharge in the atmosphere (or something resembling such a flash); can scintillate for a second or more
Lightening
(nautical) The removal of cargo (especially crude oil) from a vessel in order to reduce its draft
Lightning
A fast and potent natural event.
They say lightning never strikes the same place twice.
Lightening
The process of changing to a lighter color.
Lightening
Descent of the uterus into the pelvic cavity that occurs late in pregnancy; the fetus is said to have dropped
Lightening
Changing to a lighter color
Lightening
Making something lighter in color.
She's considering lightening her hair for the summer.
Common Curiosities
Is lightening always physical?
No, it can also refer to emotional or atmospheric lightening, not just physical.
What is lightning?
Lightning is an electrical discharge caused by imbalances between storm clouds and the ground, or within the clouds themselves.
How do you use lightening in a sentence?
"After lightening the load, the boat floated higher in the water."
Can lightning be predicted?
While exact strikes can't be predicted, conditions conducive to lightning can be forecasted.
What does lightening mean?
Lightening means making something lighter in weight, color, or severity.
What's the verb form of lightening?
The verb form is "lighten," as in "to lighten a burden."
What causes the sound of thunder?
Thunder is caused by the rapid expansion of air around a lightning bolt.
How is lightning formed?
Lightning is formed by the build-up and discharge of electrical energy between clouds or between a cloud and the ground.
What are the types of lightning?
Types include cloud-to-ground, cloud-to-cloud, intra-cloud, and heat lightning.
Does lightning only occur during storms?
Yes, lightning is a phenomenon that typically occurs during thunderstorms.
Can lightening be used figuratively?
Yes, it can describe making any situation less burdensome or more cheerful.
What are synonyms for lightening?
"Brightening," "lessening," and "alleviating" are synonyms.
Is lightning dangerous?
Yes, it can cause fires, property damage, and is lethal to living beings when it strikes.
Can lightening refer to color?
Yes, it can mean making a color paler or brighter.
What does lightening the mood mean?
It means making the atmosphere of a situation less tense or more relaxed.
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Written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
Edited by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
