lessening

USAGE SUMMARY

The word ‘lessening’ is correct and regularly used in written English.
It is used as an adjective to describe something that is gradually decreasing in size, amount, or intensity. For example: With each passing day, the noise of the city gradually lessened.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Admitting to a doping past is Armstrong's first step towards lessening his lifetime ban from cycling.

The Guardian - Sport

And the brutality shows no sign of lessening.

The Guardian - Opinion

The presence of food in the stomach slows down the rate of absorption, thereby lessening blood-sugar swings.

The Guardian - Books

A senior Indian official talks of India having a legitimate interest because a Chinese "noose" is tightening on its friends and trading partners around the South China Sea.China's maritime fixation underscores the appeal of lessening worries over its terrestrial borders at least that is the argument that some make in Beijing for seeking an agreement on the disputed border.

The Economist

Another is to shape the vessel's stern in a way that stops air being sucked into the propeller, where it would reduce thrust by lessening the propeller's grip on the water.

The Economist

Fed by ideology, opportunity and the ready availability of frustrated young men holding their lives cheap the conflagration shows no signs of abating or lessening in its depravity.

The Economist

It is whether America wants four more years of the Republican philosophy of reducing government and lessening regulations.

The Economist

Loosening the army's grip on local economies is a condition of lessening its political power.

The Economist

Creation care is only part of it: the urge to enhance national security by lessening America's dependence on foreign oil is important too.The new mood reflects a generational change among evangelicals, says Andrew Walsh, a religion-watcher at Trinity College, Hartford.

The Economist

He strengthened his position by pledging not to run again, lessening the need to buy support from cronies.Whether Mr Jonathan has the will to tackle the establishment remains to be seen.

The Economist

France's government reiterated its support for the deal, lessening the chances of a "white-knight" approach from Switzerland's Novartis.Ryanair promised that it would continue operating from Charleroi airport in Belgium despite a European Commission ruling in February that it had received illegal subsidies to fly there.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "lessening" to describe an active process of making something smaller or less intense. For example, "The company is lessening its environmental footprint."

Common error

Avoid using "lessening" as a verb. "Lessen" is the verb, while "lessening" is the present participle or gerund form. For instance, use "We aim to lessen the burden" instead of "We aim to lessening the burden".

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "lessening" is that of a present participle, often acting as an adjective modifying a noun or as part of a continuous verb tense. Ludwig AI confirms its widespread usage in varied contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Formal & Business

20%

Science

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

2%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "lessening" functions as a present participle, indicating an active process of reduction. As supported by Ludwig AI, this word is commonly used in news and formal contexts to describe the gradual decrease of something, such as "lessening concerns" or "lessening the impact". While grammatically sound, it's crucial to distinguish its role from the base verb "lessen". For clarity and impact, replace with synonyms like "reducing" or "diminishing", when appropriate. Remember to avoid using "lessening" as a verb and use "lessen" instead. The prevalence of "lessening" across diverse sources underscores its value in describing gradual reductions.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

reducing

Emphasizes the act of making something smaller or less.

diminishing

Suggests a gradual decrease in size, importance, or intensity.

decreasing

Indicates a progressive reduction, often in a measurable quantity.

alleviating

Focuses on the reduction of pain, suffering, or difficulty.

mitigating

Highlights the act of making something less severe or harmful.

abating

Implies a decrease in intensity or strength, often used for negative phenomena like storms or pain.

curtailing

Refers to reducing or restricting something, often in a deliberate manner.

weakening

Suggests a loss of strength, power, or effectiveness.

easing

Indicates a reduction in tension, pressure, or difficulty.

subsiding

Implies a decrease in activity or intensity, often after a period of high activity.

FAQs

How can I use "lessening" in a sentence?

"Lessening" is often used as a present participle or gerund. For example, "Lessening the impact of climate change requires global cooperation" or "The constant noise was lessening my ability to concentrate".

What are some alternatives to the word "lessening"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "reducing", "diminishing", "alleviating", or "mitigating".

Is it correct to say "lessening of" something?

Yes, it is grammatically correct. The phrase "lessening of" is used to describe the act or process of something becoming smaller or less. For example, "a lessening of tension".

What's the difference between "lessening" and "less"?

"Less" is a comparative adjective indicating a smaller amount or degree, while "lessening" is a verb form (present participle) indicating the process of becoming less. You might say, "There is less noise today" (comparative) versus "The city is "lessening noise pollution"" (process).