Lightening vs Lightning | Difference Between Lightening and Lightning

Lightening vs Lightning: Several English terms share a similar pronunciation and spelling. However, utilizing them may be quite confusing. This same confusion applies to the words Lightening and Lightning. Both words are used in different senses. Lightening is used as a verb and lightning is used as a noun or an adjective.

Lightening vs Lightning

Meaning of Lightening

Lightening refers to the present participle of the word light, and it means to make anything less heavy or dark. It is the opposite of bright and dark. This lightening word is used as a verb. For example, She had a heavy load, but her kid helped her by lightening her heavy load.

Meaning of Lightning

Lightning refers to an electrical spark, but on a very large scale, that occurs as a result of the concentration of positive and negative charges within a thunderstorm. This lightning word is used as a noun and an adjective.  Lightning as a noun refers to the electric discharge we see in the atmosphere during thunderstorms and, light as an adjective, refers to something with remarkable speed or suddenness. For example, He sped off at lightning speed as soon as he heard the rescue request (Lightning is used as an adjective). 

Difference Between Lightening and Lightning

Both the words lightening and lightning have the same pronunciation, but they have different meanings. There is just a difference of ‘e’ between lightening and lightning, which makes their sounds different from each other. Briefly, we can say that lightening is used as a verb, while lightning is used as a noun or an adjective. Lightening is the present participle of the word lighten, and it means to make anything less heavy or dark whereas lightning is an electrical spark, but on a very large scale, that occurs as a result of the concentration of positive and negative charges within a thunderstorm.

Basis of comparison	Lightening	Lightning
‘e’ in spelling	present	absent
Definition	Present participle of the word light.	An electrical spark, but on a very large scale, occurs due to the concentration of positive and negative charges within a thunderstorm.
Used as	Verb	Noun and adjective.
Source/ root word	lighten	light
Example	1. Many cosmetic businesses make a lot of effort to advertise skin-lightening products. 2. For lightening hair, you can prefer bleach.	1. He repaired my automobile with lightning speed. 2. According to a meteorologist, a lightning storm was reportedly approaching them.

Examples of Lightening 

1. I’ve been lightening my calorie intake for the previous few weeks.
2. I started lightening my car’s shade.
3. Creams for fading skin work by chemically lightening the skin.
4. Along with increased hair growth or hair loss, the skin may show lightening or darkening effects.
5. Many cosmetic businesses make a lot of effort to advertise skin-lightening products.
6. The lightening of knee loads that you would have otherwise experienced is one of the health advantages of decreasing weight.
7. For lightening hair, you can prefer bleach.

Examples of Lightning 

1. The heavens burst with lightning.
2. The wind blew strongly, there was thunder and lightning, and it rained heavily.
3. There was no sign of lightning at the time.
4. As a result, the lightning struck in late 2012 or early 2013.
5. He repaired my automobile with lightning speed.
6. There is a proverb that states that whenever lightning is present, thunder will follow.
7. According to a meteorologist, a lightning storm was reportedly approaching them.
8. Yes. Although it is still pouring, there is no longer any lightning.

How to remember the difference between Lightening and Lightning

By keeping in mind the following points, you can distinguish between lightning and lightning:

1. A single syllable: The letter “e” distinguishes “lightning” from “lightening,” which is the only difference between the two words.
2. Meaning: The phrases “whitening” and “brightening,” which rhyme, might help you recall the concept of “lightening.” To make anything lighter, brighter, or whiter is the meaning shared by all three of these terms.
3. Source word: “Lighten” is the root word for the term “lightening.” On the other side, the word “light” is the root of the term “lightning.”