brighten

verb

bright·​en ˈbrī-tᵊn 

brightened; brightening ˈbrīt-niŋ 

ˈbrī-tᵊn-iŋ

intransitive verb

: to become bright or brighter

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

brightener

ˈbrīt-nər 

ˈbrī-tᵊn-ər

noun

Synonyms

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

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.

Recent Examples on the Web

Tarte’s whitening pen gets the job done in a major way, immediately brightening teeth after just one application. —Sophie Dodd, Peoplemag, 20 May 2024

Make sure to apply some vignette corrections in post to brighten the corners for astro pictures. —PCMAG, 20 May 2024

No matter your mood, your soul will brighten at the sight of a saucer magnolia in full bloom; its flowers are fresher, cleaner, and more refined than those of any other tree. —Joshua Siskin, Orange County Register, 18 May 2024

Find it on Amazon This Sideboard Buffet Cabinet Is a Statement Piece This sideboard buffet cabinet will brighten up any room in your house. —Kirsten Chanel Webber, Rolling Stone, 16 May 2024

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Kids Definition

brighten

verb

bright·​en ˈbrīt-ᵊn 

brightened; brightening ˈbrīt-niŋ 

-ᵊn-iŋ

: to make or become bright or brighter