reddened; reddening ˈred-niŋ How to pronounce redden (audio)
ˈre-dᵊn-iŋ
Synonyms of reddennext

transitive verb

: to make red or reddish

intransitive verb

: to become red
especially : blush

Examples of redden in a Sentence

First-degree burns redden the skin. Her face reddened when her name was announced.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
So much bleakness, and yet when a mountainside is covered in layers of reddening leaves, a spark of yellow, a cluster of orange, there is beauty nonetheless. — Aube Rey Lescure, Longreads, 29 Oct. 2026 Carrie asked that kindergarten morning through tears that made her eyes shine rather than redden. — Literary Hub, 2 Oct. 2026 The crimson color stems from that outgoing light being reddened by the overlying layers of gas, much as sunlight scattering through Earth’s atmosphere can tint a sunset red. — Lee Billings, Scientific American, 12 Aug. 2026 One of them, a shorter, bearded man with a nose reddened and swollen from years of abusing liquor, gave a low whistle. — Carly Tagen-Dye, PEOPLE, 31 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for redden

Word History

First Known Use

1552, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of redden was in 1552

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Redden.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/redden. Accessed 11 Nov. 2026.

Kids Definition

reddened; reddening ˈred-niŋ How to pronounce redden (audio)
-ᵊn-iŋ
: to make or become red
especially : blush entry 1 sense 1
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