brighten

verb

bright·​en ˈbrī-tᵊn How to pronounce brighten (audio)
brightened; brightening ˈbrīt-niŋ How to pronounce brighten (audio)
ˈbrī-tᵊn-iŋ

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 How to pronounce brighten (audio)
ˈbrī-tᵊn-ər
noun

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 Hello Sunshine Doormat to brighten up your front door or the one out to your patio. Melissa Epifano, Peoplemag, 24 Mar. 2024 This brightens your thoughts and encourages you to see the glass as half full. Ana Morales, Glamour, 21 Mar. 2024 The coordinating shades of blue, coral, pink, and yellow will brighten up your tablescape and setting, while also looking much more glamorous than your typical white paper napkin. Wendy Vazquez, Southern Living, 15 Mar. 2024 Perhaps that joy stems from the way a colorful tin of olive oil brightens up your kitchen counter. Hannah Dylan Pasternak, SELF, 13 Mar. 2024 March 12 Dark circles and tired, sagging undereyes need a hefty dose of brightening vitamin C, the star ingredient in Kinship's radiance-boosting Brightwave Energizing + Brightening Eye Cream. Jennifer Hussein, Allure, 8 Mar. 2024 Spiced and roasted cauliflower florets join briny capers and sweet-sour pickled onions in this easy salad that will brighten even the bleakest days. Florence Fabricant, New York Times, 27 Feb. 2024 Find it on Amazon This Purple Toothpaste Will Make Your Teeth Sparkle This purple toothpaste is going to brighten your smile. Mia Meltzer, Rolling Stone, 23 Feb. 2024 Nothing will brighten up your average timepiece like a little sparkle, and here are 15 of the best women’s watches that showcase the beauty of pavé. Cait Bazemore, Robb Report, 22 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'brighten.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of brighten was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near brighten

Cite this Entry

“Brighten.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/brighten. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

brighten

verb
bright·​en ˈbrīt-ᵊn How to pronounce brighten (audio)
brightened; brightening ˈbrīt-niŋ How to pronounce brighten (audio)
-ᵊn-iŋ
: to make or become bright or brighter

More from Merriam-Webster on brighten

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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