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

Overcast skies may break fairly early in the day, brightening us even amid periodic showers and storms. — A. Camden Walker, Washington Post, "D.C.-area forecast: Periodic rain likely into the weekend, probably heaviest and most widespread today," 22 June 2018 One of Brugman's skincare goals is to brighten and hydrate her complexion. — Nicole Saunders, Harper's BAZAAR, "Watch Devin Brugman's Entire Nightly Skincare Routine," 16 May 2019 Here, two leading New York dermatologists explain how the procedure can be used to brighten and erase signs of fatigue—as reveal who can expect the very best results. — April Long, Town & Country, "Yes, You Can Get Filler for Your Under Eye Area—But Do You Need It?," 9 May 2019 No, they won't entirely get rid of that puffy, blue-ish tinge or erase wrinkles overnight, but there are a handful of options with ingredients that actually do tighten, brighten, and generally make your need for concealer a little less. — Glamour, "13 Eye Creams That Actually Work, According to Glamour Editors," 7 Mar. 2019 These ingredients, along with garlic, are browned in oil, brightened with apple cider vinegar, then pureed in a blender. — Providence Cicero, The Seattle Times, "Chester Gerl’s versatile, crunchy salsa macha is so much more than a chip dip," 2 Jan. 2019 Finally, ginger defends skin against external aggressors like pollution and is paired with vitamin C to even out hyperpigmentation and further brighten skin. — Tess Garcia, Teen Vogue, "Glow Recipe Announced the Upcoming Launch of a Target Line Called Sweet Chef," 27 Dec. 2018 The fall-off in manufacturing activity in April follows a strong showing in March that, along with an uptick in home sales, buoyed growth in the first quarter and brightened the outlook for the Chinese economy. — WSJ, "China’s Manufacturing Activity Falters," 30 Apr. 2019 In the days that followed, thousands of bouquets of flowers filled public spaces in this city, brightening the darkest of moments. — Chloe Foussianes, Town & Country, "Prince William Gave a Moving Speech at Christchurch's Al Noor Mosque. Here's the Full Transcript.," 26 Apr. 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.