as in to lighten
to become glad or hopeful
the glum soccer player started to brighten upon being told that his injury would not jeopardize his career
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of brighten
Dark purple mums brighten this fall front porch, and a variety of gourds and miniature pumpkins play a sweet supporting role.
—
Maria Sabella, Better Homes & Gardens, 15 Sep. 2025
Via a cocktail of vitamin C and the antioxidant properties of ferulic acid and vitamin E, this Vogue Verified vitamin C serum delivers environmental protection, reduces fine lines and wrinkles, improves firmness, and brightens.
—Akili King, Vogue, 10 Sep. 2025
Stained and seasoned with curry powder, the chickpea salad’s bold flavor is brightened with fresh herbs, scallions and a splash of vinegar.
—The New York Times News Service Syndicate, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Sep. 2025
The India-meets-NYC brand borrows from Burmese women’s sacred and millennia-old beauty regimens, promising numerous skin benefits like brightening, smoothing, and deep-cleaning.
—Abby Dupes, StyleCaster, 5 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for brighten
Maria Sabella, Better Homes & Gardens, 15 Sep. 2025
Via a cocktail of vitamin C and the antioxidant properties of ferulic acid and vitamin E, this Vogue Verified vitamin C serum delivers environmental protection, reduces fine lines and wrinkles, improves firmness, and brightens.
—Akili King, Vogue, 10 Sep. 2025
Stained and seasoned with curry powder, the chickpea salad’s bold flavor is brightened with fresh herbs, scallions and a splash of vinegar.
—The New York Times News Service Syndicate, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Sep. 2025
The India-meets-NYC brand borrows from Burmese women’s sacred and millennia-old beauty regimens, promising numerous skin benefits like brightening, smoothing, and deep-cleaning.
—Abby Dupes, StyleCaster, 5 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for brighten
Recent Examples of Synonyms for brighten
Verb
-
Zillow owns Follow Up Boss, one of the largest CRMs for real estate professionals, where AI is being used to lighten the load of human real estate agents juggling calls, notes, follow-ups, and property tours.—
Sharon Goldman,
Fortune,
11 Sep. 2025
-
Because entrepreneurs wear many hats, AI is key to lightening their load.—
Anna Horndahl,
Forbes.com,
10 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Meanwhile, the headphones, meant to unify the audience in a shared soundscape, instead isolate viewers into their glowing silos, which feels like an ironic choice for a show supposedly about communal grief.—
David Hochman,
Forbes.com,
14 Sep. 2025
-
As the glowing waning gibbous moon rose over center field, the Red Sox went quietly into the night one last time in the bottom of the ninth.—
Gabrielle Starr,
Boston Herald,
13 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Its peptides, biotin, glycerin, and ginseng root extract offer a nourishing defense against breakage and brittleness, reviving the brows of numerous staffers at Allure HQ.—
Sophia Panych,
Allure,
16 Sep. 2025
-
Economists expect the yuan could strengthen to 7 per dollar by the end of this year — a conviction driven in large part by Beijing's efforts to revive economic growth and encourage more investment onshore.—
Anniek Bao,
CNBC,
16 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Brighten.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/brighten. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share