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

If your grout isn't horrendous with dirt or stains, this might be a great cleaner for brightening the lines. —Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 13 Mar. 2026

Besides its ability to make our dishes sparkle and brighten our clothes in the laundry, its strong odor can also deter ants. —Alexandra Kelly, Martha Stewart, 13 Mar. 2026

Here, her glossy bronde is brightened by traces of copper. —Ariel Wodarcyk, InStyle, 11 Mar. 2026

Amid the infinity pools and sleek van transfers, careful touches of Bohol culture abound at South Palms Resort & Spa Panglao, from bold, handcrafted textiles and reclaimed wood in the rooms to classic Filipino dishes and heritage ingredients, which brighten the food and beverage options. —Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Mar. 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