1 brighten | Definition of brighten

brighten

verb
bright·​en | \ ˈbrÄ«-tᵊn How to pronounce brighten (audio) \
brightened; brightening\ ˈbrÄ«t-​niÅ‹ How to pronounce brightening (audio) , ˈbrÄ«-​tᵊn-​iÅ‹ \

Definition of brighten

transitive verb

1 : to make bright or brighter you brightened my day
2 : to enhance or intensify the flavor of (food) especially by adding an acidic element (such as citrus juice or vinegar) Crisp lemon slices brighten smoky bacon and rosemary-infused trout.— Melissa Roberts-Matar

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Other Words from brighten

brightener \ ˈbrÄ«t-​nÉ™r How to pronounce brightener (audio) , ˈbrÄ«-​tᵊn-​É™r \ noun

Synonyms & Antonyms for brighten

Synonyms

buck up, cheer (up), lighten, look up, perk (up)

Antonyms

darken, sadden

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Examples of brighten in a Sentence

He brightened the picture on the television. Flowers can brighten any room. The good news brightened her mood. The sky brightened after the storm. Business prospects brightened last month. Her face brightened in relief when she heard that he was not hurt.
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Recent Examples on the Web

Then apply a mild lactic acid peel, which hydrates, exfoliates, and brightens. Jessica Matlin, Harper's BAZAAR, "Royal Skin-Care Secrets You Need to Try for Yourself," 3 Sep. 2019 My sentences didn’t become smoother, but against baseline changes in fatigue and motivation, the pills sometimes seemed to freshen and brighten whatever question was at hand. Richard Cooke, The New Republic, "The conservative commentariat’s love affair with nootropics," 3 Sep. 2019 There are some signs that wages are up nationally in 2019, which suggests that the financial picture for many residents may have brightened since the release of the 2018 data. Brittany Meiling, San Diego Union-Tribune, "Is your paycheck keeping up with San Diego’s inflation?," 2 Sep. 2019 Red onion brightens the mix while pork jerky, a snack that should become a pantry staple, adds heft and saves you the hassle of cooking meat. Los Angeles Times, "The only pasta salad recipe you’ll ever need," 31 Aug. 2019 All those beauty benefits mean that cherry is used across the spectrum of skin care, including brightening serums, clarifying cleansers, and yes, plenty of flavored lip balms. Allure, "Why Cherry Is the Trendiest Skin-Care Ingredient of the Fall," 29 Aug. 2019 No matter how high-definition your new television set, some consumer displays can still make films or TV shows look noticeably off, either artificially brightening the picture or oversaturating it. Isaac Feldberg, Fortune, "Hollywood Heavies Unite Against TV ‘Motion-Smoothing’ With ‘Filmmaker Mode’ Setting," 28 Aug. 2019 As the sun rises this morning, your spirit still lives within us and your memories brighten our day. courant.com, "Susan Strickland Nolte," 28 Aug. 2019 Inside, melodious Chinese hwamei birds chirp in tall white cages, dramatic art works adorn the walls, while giant bromeliads and orchids brighten each corner. Jenni Marsh, CNN, "Why pro-democracy troublemaker Jimmy Lai is the only Hong Kong multi-millionaire standing up to China," 27 Aug. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'brighten.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of brighten

14th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

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More Definitions for brighten

brighten

verb

English Language Learners Definition of brighten

: to add more light to (something)
: to make (something) more colorful or cheerful
: to become brighter or more cheerful

brighten

verb
bright·​en | \ ˈbrÄ«-tᵊn How to pronounce brighten (audio) \
brightened; brightening

Kids Definition of brighten

1 : to add more light to Candlelight brightened the room.
2 : to make or become cheerful You brightened my day.

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More from Merriam-Webster on brighten

Rhyming Dictionary: Words that rhyme with brighten

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for brighten

Spanish Central: Translation of brighten

Nglish: Translation of brighten for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of brighten for Arabic Speakers