bright 1 of 2

adjective

ˈbrīt How to pronounce bright (audio)
Definition of brightnext
1
as in shining
giving off or reflecting much light in the desert the sun was so bright that it hurt my eyes the moon is bright tonight

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2
as in illuminated
filled with much light the display windows of department stores are especially bright at Christmastime

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3
as in cheerful
having or showing a good mood or disposition always walks into work with a bright smile on his face

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4
as in intelligent
having or showing quickness of mind a company that is always looking for bright, ambitious college graduates

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5
as in promising
having qualities which inspire hope predicted a bright future for the young math whiz

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6
as in favorable
pointing toward a happy outcome all the signs are bright right now for an economic boom

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7
as in cheering
serving to lift one's spirits a bright and beautiful morning to begin planting our garden

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8
as in outstanding
standing above others in rank, importance, or achievement a bright new star on the operatic scene

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9
as in radiant
having or being an outward sign of good feelings (as of love, confidence, or happiness) a room full of summer interns with bright, eager faces

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10
as in sunny
not stormy or cloudy we'll have a picnic on the next bright day

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bright

2 of 2

adverb

as in brightly
in a manner marked by the shining or reflecting of much light the storm passed, and once again the sun shone bright

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Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective bright differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of bright are brilliant, luminous, lustrous, and radiant. While all these words mean "shining or glowing with light," bright implies emitting or reflecting a high degree of light.

When is brilliant a more appropriate choice than bright?

While the synonyms brilliant and bright are close in meaning, brilliant implies intense often sparkling brightness.

In what contexts can luminous take the place of bright?

While in some cases nearly identical to bright, luminous implies emission of steady, suffused, glowing light by reflection or in surrounding darkness.

When would lustrous be a good substitute for bright?

The meanings of lustrous and bright largely overlap; however, lustrous stresses an even, rich light from a surface that reflects brightly without glittering.

When might radiant be a better fit than bright?

Although the words radiant and bright have much in common, radiant stresses the emission or seeming emission of rays of light.

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of bright
Adjective
The future looks bright for this team built with a young core and reliable veteran presence. — Outkick, FOXNews.com, 2 Oct. 2026 My ice cream bar was a creamy, bright pink, strawberry delight dipped in chocolate. — Sacbee.com, 2 Oct. 2026 Except in large telescopes, the satellites might be lost in the glare of the bright lunar crescent just prior to disappearing behind the moon, but their emergence from behind the Moon's dark side should be especially dramatic. — Joe Rao, Space.com, 2 Oct. 2026 The first step to brighter-looking underarms is figuring out what might be irritating them in the first place. — Glamour, 2 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for bright
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bright
  1. shining
  2. illuminated
  3. cheerful
  4. intelligent
  5. promising
  6. favorable
  7. outstanding
  8. radiant
Adjective
  • At a time of so much partisanship in Congress, especially related to health care, breakthrough legislation is a shining example of how commonsense policies that support patient care and innovation can achieve broad support.
    — Josh Makower, STAT, 16 Mar. 2026
  • Those memories will remain some of the most shining and unforgettable moments of my life.
    — Jeff Benjamin, Forbes.com, 12 Mar. 2026
Definition of shining
Adjective
  • But the Torcal adds a whole lot of bling with an illuminated diamond-pattern grille that will polarize onlookers.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 26 Sep. 2026
  • Guests took their seats at long counters built around illuminated jewelry cases, with jewels and timepieces visible beneath the glass.
    — Ryma Chikhoune, Footwear News, 24 Sep. 2026
Definition of illuminated
Adjective
  • But the film hardly even merits such empty pastiche, and there’s little else to distinguish it from much cheap-and-cheerful streaming fodder in this genre space.
    — Guy Lodge, Variety, 30 Sep. 2026
  • In Phoenix, there was an energetic and cheerful young man by the name of Craig Wismer.
    — Lauren Weiner, Baltimore Sun, 28 Sep. 2026
Definition of cheerful
Adjective
  • Legitimate concerns about abuse can be mitigated through intelligent regulation, not by eliminating a long-standing policing tool.
    — Rafael A. Mangual, Washington Post, 2 Oct. 2026
  • View gallery - 3 images There was a time when intelligent rings were what your level-three wizard wore in a Dungeons and Dragons campaign.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of intelligent
Adjective
  • If explored further, this study could open a promising new pathway to global, large-scale clean energy storage by showing that naturally occurring hydrogen traps can double as high-capacity power banks.
    — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 29 Sep. 2026
  • Of interest to the teenage set is new series Coven Academy, which is set at a New Orleans school that only enrolls the most promising witches and warlocks.
    — K. Thor Jensen, PC Magazine, 28 Sep. 2026
Definition of promising
Adjective
  • The National Business Aviation Association and other aviation groups argue tax breaks help support jobs while spending millions lobbying to preserve their favorable treatment.
    — Mia Osmonbekov, Fortune, 1 Oct. 2026
  • Even as Democrats target his Virginia district to capitalize on a favorable 2026 environment, McGuire is doing the opposite of Republicans in some competitive races, who are softening their ties to Trump.
    — Barnini Chakraborty, The Washington Examiner, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of favorable
Adjective
  • Conrad has done an outstanding job of pulling together a team of local workers at all levels of the business.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026
  • Livingston is now an outstanding player on Telfair County’s girls basketball team, which went 20-8 last season.
    — Todd Holcomb, AJC.com, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of outstanding
Adjective
  • The Mini Glow Pro is compact and portable, combining red and blue light therapy, therapeutic warming and ultrasonic waves to support youthful, radiant-looking skin.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 3 Oct. 2026
  • The radiant point is close to the bright star Vega, famed as the anchor star of the Summer Triangle asterism.
    — Jamie Carter, Space.com, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of radiant

Browse Nearby Words

brigantines
bright
brighten
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Cite this Entry

“Bright.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bright. Accessed 6 Oct. 2026.

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