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

The payoff is an antioxidant-rich anti-aging formula that plumps wrinkles, brightens skin, and smoothes texture while reducing inflammation. —Tamim Alnuweiri, InStyle, 23 May 2026

Summer is belt bag season, and this vibrant pink version instantly brightens any warm-weather outfit. —Nicol Natale, PEOPLE, 23 May 2026

As the moon brightens and climbs higher after sunset, two planets — Jupiter and Venus — will be easy to see in the western sky. —Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 22 May 2026

The cocktail list, on the other hand, is creative and fun — the Smoke Signal is a boozy treat for mezcal lovers, and the Fly by Night brightens up rye whiskey with fig and lemon. —Kate Williams, AJC.com, 22 May 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