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Lightening or Lightning?
What Is the Difference between "Lightening" and "Lightning"?
"Lightening" and "Lightning" are easy to confuse because they sound so similar (i.e., they are nearly homonyms). However, their meanings are quite different.- Lightening. "Lightening" means to make something lighter (in color/colour or weight). For example:
- I'm lightening the bathroom with the leftover white paint.
- Lightning. "Lightning" is the flash of light followed by thunder during a storm. For example:
- Did you see that fork of lightning?
Lightning Calculator
How far away is the lightning?
- The lightning is 0 m away. (That's 0 miles or 0 football pitches.)
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More about Lightening and Lightning
Writers are often confused between "lightening" and "lightning" due to their similar sounds and spellings.Listen to how they are pronounced:

Lightening
The word "lightening" comes from the verb "to lighten." It means to make something paler in color (

Example sentences with "lightening":
- I had to throw away my dress after my failed attempt at lightening it.
- Lightening the sacks will help us move the corn more quickly.
- Making jokes is my brother's way of lightening the mood.
Lightning
The noun "lightning" is often seen in the term "thunder and lightning." In other words, "lightning" denotes a flash of light caused by the discharge of electricity in the atmosphere.Example sentences with "lightning":
- Thunder is good. Thunder is impressive, but it is lightning that does the work.
(Writer Mark Twain)
- Electricity is really just organized lightning.
(Comedian George Carlin)
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