brighten

verb bright·en \ ˈbrī-tᵊn \

|Updated on: 6 Jun 2018

Examples: brighten in a Sentence

Definition of brighten

brightened; brightening play \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

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brightener

play \ˈbrīt-nər, ˈbrī-tᵊn-ər\ noun

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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

While Kim Yong Chol's possible trip to the United States could further brighten the prospects for the summit, history shows that things could still crumble at the last minute even after an exchange of high-level officials.

— NBC News, "North Korean official's rumored trip to U.S. is reminiscent of 2000 trip," 29 May 2018
While Kim Yong Chol’s possible trip to the United States could further brighten the prospects for the summit, history shows that things could still crumble at the last minute even after an exchange of high-level officials.

— hyung-jin kim, USA TODAY, "Top North Korean official may be headed to the U.S. to discuss summit between Kim Jong Un, Trump," 29 May 2018
Professional makeup artists swear by primers for brightening and smoothing skin, locking in makeup all day long, and adding another line of defense against skin concerns like acne, uneven texture, and fine lines.

— lexi novak, Allure, "9 Unexpected Primer Tricks That Keep Makeup Flawless All Day Long," 18 May 2018
That rise had brightened the picture for public retirement systems and closed some of the gap between expectations and reality.

— heather gillers, WSJ, "Pension Funds Still Making Promises They Probably Can’t Keep," 8 May 2018
Fun fashion brightens up a gloomy Kentucky Derby 2018 On a drizzly Kentucky Derby Day, most people were clad in plastic 99-cent ponchos outside and around the track.

— bailey loosemore, The Courier-Journal, "Celebs and fashion flood Churchill Downs despite record rain at Kentucky Derby," 5 May 2018
After you’ve been sufficiently cleansed, the specialist will apply a hydrating, soothing, and brightening serum that will moisturize your skin from the inside out, for instant glowing results.

— Southern Living, "Hold the Phone: Sephora is Now Offering Your Favorite Spa Service for Free," 3 May 2018
Lemon zest brightens and lightens the entire dish, while white wine vinaigrette plays the perfect complement to the sweet peas and crunchy asparagus.

— birmingham magazine, AL.com, "2 spring-ready recipes for English peas," 13 Apr. 2018
Zest some lemon skin into the wet batter to brighten things up, and mix to combine.

— emily schultz, Bon Appetit, "A Rhubarb Custard Cake Somewhere Between Pudding and Heaven," 26 Mar. 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.