brightness

noun

bright·​ness ˈbrīt-nəs 

1

a

: the quality or state of being bright

also : an instance of such a quality or state

b

: luminance

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

Synonyms of brightness

• brilliancy
• brilliance
• lightness
• illumination
• luminosity

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

That brightness will overwhelm many of the faint Delta Aquariid meteors, leaving only the brightest examples visible. — Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 30 July 2026

The potatoes melt into a center of coarse ground beef, deeply savory with a subtle sweetness, and complex with the grassy, herbal brightness of culantro. — Jenn Harris, Los Angeles Times, 30 July 2026

Lowering monitor brightness and turning off heated bathroom floors when they aren’t needed are other small adjustments that can add up to noticeable savings over time. — Lauren Jarvis-Gibson july 29, Sacbee.com, 29 July 2026

The key is balancing soft brightness around the face with rooty depth underneath, allowing the color to grow out beautifully. — Amanda Le, InStyle, 29 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

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

Rhymes for brightness

• lightness
• rightness
• tightness
• whiteness
• finiteness
• politeness
• uprightness

Medical Definition

brightness

noun

bright·​ness ˈbrīt-nəs 

: 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