brighten

verb

bright·en | \ˈbrī-tᵊn

brightened; brightening\ˈbrīt-niŋ,

ˈbrī-tᵊn-iŋ \

Definition of brighten

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

Other Words from brighten Synonyms & Antonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about brighten

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Synonyms & Antonyms for brighten

Synonyms

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

Antonyms

darken, sadden

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

Their bright green foliage with red veins and stems will brighten up your garden beds, too. — The Editors, Good Housekeeping, "How to Grow Beets This Fall for a Hearty Autumn Harvest," 21 Aug. 2018 For a more lavish Thanksgiving experience, brighten up the table with pops of metallic. — Chanel Vargas, Town & Country, "16 Stylish Thanksgiving Table Decorating Ideas," 6 Aug. 2018 His smiles and laughter would brighten up the world. — Hartford Courant, courant.com, "Gaetano Pulvirenti," 26 May 2018 These lighter tones will only brighten up your space. Don’t be afraid to mix wood stain colors to add warmth and character. — John Inc., Houston Chronicle, "GHBA Remodelers Council: The Top 6 unique kitchen design trends of 2018," 13 May 2018 Celery and parsley brighten the delicate, earthy flavor of the peas, but other herbs can be used instead, such as rosemary or marjoram. — Emily Horton, sacbee, "Legumes, vegetables enrich these simple, one-pot pasta dishes | The Sacramento Bee," 17 Apr. 2018 His attitude would brighten for weeks at a time, then descend again into paranoia and anger. — Carol Marbin Miller And Kyra Gurney, miamiherald, "Parkland shooter dreamed of killing, covering himself in blood, he told therapist | Miami Herald," 9 Mar. 2018 The mirrored dressers reflect light coming in from the window and brighten the room. — Samantha Netkin, House Beautiful, "These 7 Tricks Made My Tiny Apartment Feel 10 Times Bigger," 6 Sep. 2018 Often, dorms can appear dim and dingy, but the wide window between the girls’ beds and the abundant selection cheerful bedding really brightens the room. — Katelyn Chef, Teen Vogue, "Mercyhurst University Dorm Decor," 24 Aug. 2018

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.