# lessen

> English word · Verb · IPA /ˈlɛsən/ · frequency rank #17,888

## Definitions
1. To make less; to diminish; to reduce.
2. To become less.

## Etymology
From Middle English lessenen, lasnen, equivalent to less + -en (verbal suffix).

## Easily confused with
- **listen** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/lessen-vs-listen)
- **lesson** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/lessen-vs-lesson)
- **lesser** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/lessen-vs-lesser)
- **Lester** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/lessen-vs-lester)
- **loosen** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/lessen-vs-loosen)
- **lessons** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/lessen-vs-lessons)
- **Lessing** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/lessen-vs-lessing)
- **less** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/less-vs-lessen)
- **lease** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/lease-vs-lessen)
- **lenses** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/lenses-vs-lessen)
- **leased** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/leased-vs-lessen)
- **leases** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/leases-vs-lessen)
- **Lesley** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/lesley-vs-lessen)
- **Larsen** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/larsen-vs-lessen)
- **lesion** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/lesion-vs-lessen)
- **Leiden** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/leiden-vs-lessen)
- **lessee** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/lessee-vs-lessen)

## Common misspellings (7)
`elssen`, `lesen`, `lesesn`, `lessenn`, `lessne`, `llessen`, `lsesen`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/lessen