brighten

play

verb bright·en \ˈbrī-t^ən\

Definition of brighten

brightened

;

brightening

play \ˈbrīt-niŋ, ˈbrī-t^ən-iŋ\

intransitive verb
: to become bright or brighter
transitive verb
: to make bright or brighter you brightened my day

brightener

play \ˈbrīt-nər, ˈbrī-t^ən-ər\ noun

See brighten defined for English-language learners

See brighten defined for kids

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 of brighten from the Web

Using four hop varieties and three different malts, this dark ale’s roasty body is brightened by pine and citrus notes.

— Ramona Sentinel, "ChuckAlek beer in Samuel Adams’ 12-pack," 19 July 2017
Overall, the decor is much more understated than that of Johnson's homes in New York City and Malibu, though still colorful enough to brighten up any vacation. Related: Score!

— melissa minton, Teen Vogue, "Betsey Johnson's Mexican Villa Is Available to Rent," 17 July 2017
Being in touch with his old bandmates again has brightened his life.

— matt wake, AL.com, "The Alabama band a rock-star left behind rises again," 3 July 2017
Blond wood paneling, faded with sun exposure over the years, got a coat of white paint, as did the walls, brightening up the interior.

— shauna steigerwald, Cincinnati.com, "Cool Home: Indian Hill 1960s renovation," 27 June 2017
With cinder-block walls brightened by pictures of horses that evoke this equestrian county, the nursing home offers crafts, bingo and other activities.

— jordan rau, Kaiser Health News, "In The End, Even The Middle Class Would Feel GOP Cuts To Nursing Home Care," 26 June 2017
Enter Starburst hair, the latest mesmerizing hair color trend that's about to brighten your feed.

— zoe weiner, Teen Vogue, "Starburst Dye Will Upgrade Your Rainbow Hair Color," 21 June 2017
The Cabin Branch Quilters brought their handiwork, some 78 quilts, to Action in Community Through Service in Dumfries late last month, the lively colors and ornate patterns intended to brighten the lives of children who have weathered awful times.

— jonathan hunley, Washington Post, "In Pr. William quilting guilds, a pattern of giving," 19 June 2017
A day trip or getting together with someone who brightens your day is favored.

— eugenia last, The Mercury News, "Horoscopes: June 18, 2017," 18 June 2017

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.