brightened; brightening
ˈbrīt-niŋ 
ˈbrī-tᵊn-iŋ
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
Melissa Roberts-MatarExamples 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
My favorite is Phlur’s Vanilla Skin deodorant, which is clinically tested to last 48 hours, doesn’t contain ingredients like aluminum or baking soda, and offers a skin-loving formula with BHA that brightens underarms.
—Brittany Leitner, StyleCaster, 1 Oct. 2025
There’s a brightening serum to keep your skin glowing long after vacation, a color-protecting shampoo to help maintain your summer highlights, and a gourmand fragrance with notes of sweet vanilla and earthy amber that linger on skin like a warm hug.
—Sarah Kinonen, Allure, 1 Oct. 2025
Jon Clark’s no-place-to-hide lighting unnervingly brightens Beckett’s shadowy world but without losing its sense of dread, allowing both light and dark at the end of this infinite tunnel.
—Frank Rizzo, Variety, 29 Sep. 2025
The refreshing feel is perfect for depuffing and brightening tired eyes.
—L. Daniela Alvarez, Better Homes & Gardens, 29 Sep. 2025
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Brittany Leitner, StyleCaster, 1 Oct. 2025
There’s a brightening serum to keep your skin glowing long after vacation, a color-protecting shampoo to help maintain your summer highlights, and a gourmand fragrance with notes of sweet vanilla and earthy amber that linger on skin like a warm hug.
—Sarah Kinonen, Allure, 1 Oct. 2025
Jon Clark’s no-place-to-hide lighting unnervingly brightens Beckett’s shadowy world but without losing its sense of dread, allowing both light and dark at the end of this infinite tunnel.
—Frank Rizzo, Variety, 29 Sep. 2025
The refreshing feel is perfect for depuffing and brightening tired eyes.
—L. Daniela Alvarez, Better Homes & Gardens, 29 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for brighten
Cite this Entry
“Brighten.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/brighten. Accessed 6 Oct. 2025.
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