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 TikTokers swear by this electric face massager that can be used to tighten, lift, and brighten the skin. Mia Meltzer, Rolling Stone, 27 Sep. 2024 The shift suggests that Harris could be shedding some of Biden’s baggage on the economy as sentiment among consumers begins to brighten. Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 27 Sep. 2024 But the complexion gorgeousness begins when the niacinamide and hyaluronic acid in those pearls are released upon application to brighten and hydrate your skin. Allure, 26 Sep. 2024 When combined, borax boosts the cleaning performance of your detergent by helping break down stains and brighten your clothes all in one wash. Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 21 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for brighten 

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 11 Oct. 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
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!