brightness

noun

bright·​ness ˈbrīt-nəs How to pronounce brightness (audio)
1
a
: the quality or state of being bright
also : an instance of such a quality or state
b
2
: the attribute of light-source colors by which emitted light is ordered continuously from light to dark in correlation with its intensity compare hue sense 2c, lightness entry 1 sense 2a, saturation sense 4

Examples of brightness in a Sentence

the brightness of the sunshine made me squint after an afternoon spent in a darkened movie theater
Recent Examples on the Web It’s also got a dimmable touch switch to choose the brightness. Mia Meltzer, Rolling Stone, 24 Oct. 2024 There are two factors: size and brightness (or albedo, the fraction of light that is reflected from the surface), says Szabo. Bruce Dorminey, Forbes, 21 Oct. 2024 The device functions as a bedside lamp with 10 levels of brightness ranging from 2 to 4,000 lumens. Michael Franco, New Atlas, 18 Oct. 2024 This meteor shower is known for its brightness and speed – each meteor can streak up to 148,000 mph. Janet Loehrke, USA TODAY, 18 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for brightness 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'brightness.' 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

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of brightness was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near brightness

Cite this Entry

“Brightness.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/brightness. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

Medical Definition

brightness

noun
bright·​ness ˈbrīt-nəs How to pronounce brightness (audio)
: the one of the three psychological dimensions of color perception by which visual stimuli are ordered continuously from light to dark and which is correlated with light intensity compare hue, saturation sense 4a

More from Merriam-Webster on brightness

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