From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishlessenless‧en /ˈlesən/ ●○○ verb [intransitive, transitive] LESSREDUCEto become smaller in size, importance, or value, or make something do this SYN reducelessen the risk/chance/possibility etc (of something) Exercise lessens the risk of heart disease.lessen the impact/effect/importance (of something) The new project will lessen the effects of car pollution. Gradually her anxiety lessened.→ See Verb table
Examples from the Corpus
lessen• By Thursday, smoke in the valley had considerably lessened.• With such a base, your dependency on the organization is lessened.• My love for the countryside has never lessened.• At the same time, as the Gods become more human, humans themselves become lessened.• Over time, the pain usually lessens, but this may take several months.• Everyone has their own ideas about the best way to lessen jet lag.• Although violence has lessened since the mid-90s, it has not disappeared.• The individual is always trying to reconcile his inner and outer world and lessen the anxiety of the internal situation.• Beyond a quieter plane ride, NoiseBuster is said to lessen the effects of jet lag.• He shifted his position a little, in order to lessen the pain in his leg.• It should be used as a platform from which to explore the different modes that he suggests of lessening the short-run myopia.• Peace talks have lessened the tension between the two countries.• Her trusting Donald like this, it was lessening the value of her trust in him.lessen the risk/chance/possibility etc (of something)• A better solution is for automakers to develop air bags that inflate more slowly, lessening the risk of injury.• It was felt that these arrangements would lessen the risk of the association being drawn into difficulties if anything else went wrong.• That lessens the chance of profitability and alarms the banks that have insisted on these sales.• The force of the disconnection had certainly lessened the chances of a swift revival of all physical functions.• The hinge connecting the front and rear pieces sits under the instep and lessens the chance of failure due to the metal flexing.• This is far quicker, and lessens the risk of damage from charring and scraping.• Unfortunately this is not always done, lessening the chances of full and effective usage of the aid provided.• Using those areas for sampling would lessen the chance of an undercount of minorities, she said. 