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
LaBonta hopes the learning curve will begin to flatten and pay dividends as the lights of competition brighten.
—Daniel Sperry, Kansas City Star, 27 Mar. 2026
New Line has once again brightened up to the idea of a sequel to its 2016 supernatural horror hit Lights Out.
—Borys Kit, HollywoodReporter, 27 Mar. 2026
Vegan green curry, made with apples, coconut milk and a bit of miso — though more Thai than Japanese in palate — brightens roasted cauliflower ($18).
—Cesar Hernandez, San Francisco Chronicle, 27 Mar. 2026
Saturday Skin’s Yuzu Vitamin C Sleep Mask pairs yuzu with ascorbic acid and niacinamide to brighten and even tone overnight.
—Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 26 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for brighten
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Daniel Sperry, Kansas City Star, 27 Mar. 2026
New Line has once again brightened up to the idea of a sequel to its 2016 supernatural horror hit Lights Out.
—Borys Kit, HollywoodReporter, 27 Mar. 2026
Vegan green curry, made with apples, coconut milk and a bit of miso — though more Thai than Japanese in palate — brightens roasted cauliflower ($18).
—Cesar Hernandez, San Francisco Chronicle, 27 Mar. 2026
Saturday Skin’s Yuzu Vitamin C Sleep Mask pairs yuzu with ascorbic acid and niacinamide to brighten and even tone overnight.
—Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 26 Mar. 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 30 Mar. 2026.
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