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
Going farther west, however, brightens the sky even more and anywhere west of a line from approximately central Michigan, going south through east-central Kentucky to the Gulf Coast will be bathed in full daylight.
—Joe Rao, Space.com, 24 Apr. 2026
As a professional online shopper, nothing brightens up my day quite like scoring a budget-friendly haul.
—Clara McMahon, PEOPLE, 24 Apr. 2026
Red cabbage pairs especially well with acidic dressings like lemon juice or apple cider vinegar, which also helps soften its slightly bitter edge and brighten its color.
—Lauren Panoff, Verywell Health, 24 Apr. 2026
The fresh and light menu brightens up the day with dishes featuring local vegetables and fish from the Malaga coast, as well as old-school resort favorites like a fabulous club sandwich.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for brighten
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Joe Rao, Space.com, 24 Apr. 2026
As a professional online shopper, nothing brightens up my day quite like scoring a budget-friendly haul.
—Clara McMahon, PEOPLE, 24 Apr. 2026
Red cabbage pairs especially well with acidic dressings like lemon juice or apple cider vinegar, which also helps soften its slightly bitter edge and brighten its color.
—Lauren Panoff, Verywell Health, 24 Apr. 2026
The fresh and light menu brightens up the day with dishes featuring local vegetables and fish from the Malaga coast, as well as old-school resort favorites like a fabulous club sandwich.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for brighten
Cite this Entry
“Brighten.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/brighten. Accessed 27 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
