lessens

Lessens is the third-person singular present tense of the verb lessen, meaning to make something smaller in amount, degree, or intensity. It can be used transitively, as in “The policy lessens the risk,” or intransitively, as in “The pain lessens over time.” The word is common in formal and technical writing, but also appears in everyday language.

Etymology and forms: Lessen comes from the adjective less, with the English suffix -en used to form verbs meaning to cause to become. The sense “to make less” is attested in Middle English and remains productive in modern usage. Principal forms include lessen (base), lessens (third-person singular present), lessened (past tense and past participle), and lessening (present participle). The noun lesson refers to a unit of instruction and is unrelated in meaning, though it is a common source of confusion for readers.

Usage notes: Lessen is typically used for reductions in magnitude, extent, or intensity rather than physical size. It often appears in policy, science, law, and journalism, as in “measures to lessen air pollution” or “efforts to lessen economic uncertainty.” When discussing size or quantity, other verbs such as decrease or reduce may be more precise. Lessen can be paired with adjectives like severe, significant, or potential to emphasize the degree of reduction.

See also: decrease, diminish, reduce, mitigate, alleviate. A related but distinct word with a different meaning and pronunciation is lesson, the term for an instructional session.