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

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 To do so, use a nail buffer like Deborah Lippmann’s Smooth Operator 4-Way Nail Buffer on the surface of your nails in gentle circular motions to smooth and brighten beds. — Emily Rekstis, Glamour, "10 Things You Can Do Now to Get Stronger, Healthier Nails ASAP," 20 Apr. 2019 The same can be said for my dark eye circles—the primer helps dull them and brightens up my undereye area. — Tara Gonzalez, Glamour, "Tatcha’s The Silk Canvas Makeup Primer Makes My Skin Look Airbrushed," 27 Mar. 2019 An elaborate display of pink and green blooms (with feathers plopped throughout) lined the entirety of the center of the table, brightening the moody room. — Michaela Bechler, Vogue, "The Attico Hosts a Feather-Filled Dinner in New York," 8 Feb. 2019 Getty Images Uncle Joe is here to brighten up the dark storm cloud hanging over your Sunday afternoon. — Kayleigh Roberts, Marie Claire, "Joe Biden Adopts Adorable Shelter Dog," 18 Nov. 2018 Often, experts recommend going two shades lighter than your skin tone with your concealer to brighten up a dark under eye area. — Jessica Cruel, SELF, "11 Concealers You Can Wear Without Foundation," 27 July 2018 This Celery and Apple Salad takes advantage of winter’s bounty of apples to brighten up your table with a sweet and salty vinaigrette and the crunch of fresh celery. — Emily Spicer, San Antonio Express-News, "Celery and Apple Salad brightens your winter table," 10 Jan. 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.