brighten

verb

bright·​en ˈbrī-tᵊn 

brightened; brightening 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

brightener

ˈbrīt-nər 

ˈbrī-tᵊn-ər

noun

Synonyms of brighten

• lighten
• glow
• revive

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

Pisces February 19 – March 20 Friendships brighten as words land softly. —Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 10 Apr. 2026

The key window is April 10-20, when the comet is brightening but not yet too deeply embedded in the sun's glare. —Jamie Carter, Space.com, 10 Apr. 2026

Even the interest rate outlook brightened this week, with fed funds futures suddenly pricing in at least one cut by the end of the year. —Sarah Min, CNBC, 10 Apr. 2026

Lush, vibrant and full of life, California Tropicals instantly brightens any space while adding fresh, feel-good energy. —Tory Johnson, ABC News, 9 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Rhymes for brighten

• chitin
• frighten
• heighten
• lighten
• phaeton
• tighten
• titan
• triton
• whiten
• enlighten
• exciton
• periphyton

Kids Definition

brighten

verb

bright·​en ˈbrīt-ᵊn 

brightened; brightening ˈbrīt-niŋ 

-ᵊn-iŋ

: to make or become bright or brighter