Verb (used without object) : The sky lightened after the storm. ,Her face lightened when she heard the good news. ,It thundered and lightened for hours. ,steel blades lightening in the sun.    From Dictionary.com. 

Verb (used with object) : A full moon lightened the road. ,A large smile lightened his face. ,Add white to lighten the paint. ,eyes that lightened forth implacable hatred.    From Dictionary.com. 

(The Philipines, as one example, sells many skin lightening soaps.).    From Wordnik.com.  [Michael Jackson: Shooting Star « Colleen Anderson] Reference

Cholera strikes so fast it is sometimes called the lightening disease.    From Wordnik.com.  [As Cholera Spreads in Haiti, Authorities Expect Disease to Remain for Years] Reference

Begin lightening raids on predatory businesses and apprehending all illegal immigrants in the workplace.    From Wordnik.com.  [Wonk Room » CNN Airs Anti-Immigrant Front Group’s ‘Pro-Labor’ Incendiary Ad] Reference

"It's an issue of trust, Cam," Ian finally said, his expression lightening as he leaned back in his chair.    From Wordnik.com.  [Wicked Pleasures]

"Not as far as I know," said Soskind, his expression lightening a bit at the smoked salmon and onion bits.    From Wordnik.com.  [Banquets of the Black Widowers]

His expression lightening, the viscount settled back in his chair and prepared to hear what Francis had to say.    From Wordnik.com.  [Dearly Beloved]

Nevertheless, plenty of light flooded the space from two ornate chandeliers and all the lightening from the camera crews.    From Wordnik.com.  [A kid reporter learns the ropes covering Obama] Reference

And the lightening was the only glow left in this night.    From Wordnik.com.  [Strange Fiction 1] Reference

You may recall lightening hit our house last year and fried many of our computers.    From Wordnik.com.  [Arcane Code] Reference

This dropping — called lightening or engagement — is more likely to happen before labor if this is your first baby.    From Wordnik.com.  [Baby at 36 weeks] Reference

This observation is usually made by people who aren’t really interested in lightening the load of the payroll tax, but it's still true.    From Wordnik.com.  [Retirement Policy] Reference

A Snarkling worries she's going to be struck by "lightening".    From Wordnik.com.  [Save your money for bribing Miss Snark] Reference

Could the corporations' legal departments be behind this "lightening" of scents?.    From Wordnik.com.  [A Twosome for Autumn: Short Reviews of Bvlgari’s Jasmin Noir and Estee Lauder’s Sensuous] Reference

This effect which lime has in "lightening" heavy soils has been known to last for years.    From Wordnik.com.  [Manures and the principles of manuring] Reference

The 'lightening' effect will be palpable and reduces the weight of the flour by as much as 25%.    From Wordnik.com.  [Zucchini Muffins | A Veggie Venture] Reference

Halfway thru the incubation period sorry...scientist I realized that I bought a 'lightening' kit not straight hair dye.    From Wordnik.com.  [That probably explains why it wasn't working] Reference

Forcing the "lightening" of skin color on a public mural is yet another episode in the larger narrative unfolding here in Arizona.    From Wordnik.com.  [Randall Amster: Erasing Arizona: Dark-skinned Mural Faces Ordered "Lightened" to Appease Bigotry] Reference

In Photoshop Elements 6, a Guided Edit mode provides step-by-step instructions for various tasks, such as lightening or darkening photos.    From Wordnik.com.  [Adobe gives Photoshop and Premiere Elements a facelift] Reference

As far away as St. Anthony the same "lightening" was reported.    From Wordnik.com.  [Signs of the Times] Reference

We moved the bed and dressers with an eye to "lightening" the room by the end.    From Wordnik.com.  [Apartment Therapy Main] Reference

Perlite is excellent for "lightening" soil to encourage easier plant germination.    From Wordnik.com.  [Epinions Recent Content for Home] Reference

Also called lightening or “dropping.”.    From Wordnik.com.  [Pregnancy, Childbirth, and the Newborn] Reference

29-Aug-2008 - A group has been formed in the UK to pressure regulators into "lightening" the.    From Wordnik.com.  [NutraIngredients RSS] Reference

The guitarist lets fly with a lightening arpeggio.    From Wordnik.com.  [Tango] Reference

Ringi's crime, it seems, was lightening clients 'hair.    From Wordnik.com.  [Violence: A Killing Over 'Aryan Cosmetics'] Reference

Lots of rain and lightening in the District right now.    From Wordnik.com.  [Storms wreak havoc on AM commute] Reference

 One that happens to be supercharged by lightening bolts.    From Wordnik.com.  [Three Examples Of Male Arousal Without Desire For Intercourse] Reference

It's a model well suited to today's lightening-fast business cycles.    From Wordnik.com.  [MASTERS OF THE DIGITAL AGE] Reference

The final product is tough -- and it's lightening the load for thousands worldwide.    From Wordnik.com.  [Technology: Shedding Light on a Literacy Problem] Reference

For what it's worth, the rain and lightening have abated in Northwest Washington.    From Wordnik.com.  [Storms wreak havoc on AM commute] Reference

Rain greeted competitors before the 7 a.m. start before lightening into a steady mist.    From Wordnik.com.  [Fenty completes Nation's Triathlon] Reference

Synchronicity like this, I'd say the odds are greater for lightening to strike a person.    From Wordnik.com.  [Deborah Jiang Stein: Synchronicity On the Rise] Reference

 Stella, the bartender, was a local legend, pouring perfect drinks with lightening speed.    From Wordnik.com.  [Inner City] Reference

The latest reports show that three thousand and two areas have been hit by bolts of lightening.    From Wordnik.com.  [Memory Garden] Reference

I thought wow, this San Diego uniform is pretty cool, powder blue with little lightening bolts.    From Wordnik.com.  ['It Stuns Me'] Reference

Captain, notice how no one else in the house keeps kosher, and yet lightening never strikes them?.    From Wordnik.com.  [Tallulah Morehead: Big Brother 12: Tongue Digging] Reference