'Lessen' means to reduce or decrease; 'lesson' is a unit of teaching or an experience that teaches.
Verb. To make something smaller, weaker, or less intense.
Taking breaks can lessen fatigue during long projects.
The medication was designed to lessen inflammation.
Her reassurances did nothing to lessen my anxiety.
Noun. A period of instruction. Also an experience from which you learn something valuable.
The grammar lesson covered past perfect and past simple.
Losing the contract was a painful but valuable lesson.
Let that be a lesson to all of us about deadlines.
Common mistake
Confusing verb and noun: "The medicine will lesson the pain" (correct: lessen). Or "A valuable lessen" (correct: lesson).
Trick to remember it
'Lessen' ends in EN like other change-verbs: worsen, soften, deepen — all mean to make something more or less of a quality. 'Lesson' ends in ON like 'season' and 'reason' — all nouns.
Quick rule
Is it the act of reducing or decreasing (verb)? 'Lessen'. Is it the class or learning experience (noun)? 'Lesson'.
Did you know?
The word 'lesson' traces back to the Latin 'lectio' (a reading or lecture), from 'legere' (to read). This same root gives us 'lecture', 'legible', 'legend', and 'eligible'. A lesson is literally a reading or selection of text presented for study.
Exercise 1 · Pick the right one
The new ventilation system was installed to _____ air pollution inside the building.
Exercise 2 · Pick the right one
The _____ on passive voice took longer than expected but was very clear.
Exercise 3 · Form the word
Is it the act of reducing or decreasing (verb)? 'Lessen'. Is it the class or learning experience (noun)? 'Lesson'.
Confusing verb and noun: "The medicine will lesson the pain" (correct: lessen). Or "A valuable lessen" (correct: lesson).
'Lessen' ends in EN like other change-verbs: worsen, soften, deepen — all mean to make something more or less of a quality. 'Lesson' ends in ON like 'season' and 'reason' — all nouns.
Bryan López
Founder of SpeakUP Academy