as in to lighten
to become glad or hopeful
the glum soccer player started to brighten upon being told that his injury would not jeopardize his career
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Recent Examples of brighten
Lego Botanicals Happy Plants Building Toys Builders ages 9 and up can put together this 217-piece Lego set of happy plants, perfect for brightening up a desk or imaginative play.
—
Mia Huelsbeck, PEOPLE, 8 Nov. 2025
Sour cream dressing Tracing back to Central and Eastern Europe, sour cream dressing is thinned with lemon juice or vinegar, brightened with Dijon mustard and sometimes sweetened with sugar and paprika for dressings that shine on potato or egg salads.
—Deirdre Bardolf, FOXNews.com, 8 Nov. 2025
The colorful evergreen foliage provides a warm winter welcome in porch planters and brightens patio plantings all year long.
—Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 6 Nov. 2025
In addition to its cover-up capabilities, the formula is enriched with nourishing ingredients such as allantoin, bakuchiol, and niacinamide that actually target dark spots and, with time (and regular wear), can brighten them while clarifying the complexion.
—Jessie Quinn, StyleCaster, 6 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for brighten
Mia Huelsbeck, PEOPLE, 8 Nov. 2025
Sour cream dressing Tracing back to Central and Eastern Europe, sour cream dressing is thinned with lemon juice or vinegar, brightened with Dijon mustard and sometimes sweetened with sugar and paprika for dressings that shine on potato or egg salads.
—Deirdre Bardolf, FOXNews.com, 8 Nov. 2025
The colorful evergreen foliage provides a warm winter welcome in porch planters and brightens patio plantings all year long.
—Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 6 Nov. 2025
In addition to its cover-up capabilities, the formula is enriched with nourishing ingredients such as allantoin, bakuchiol, and niacinamide that actually target dark spots and, with time (and regular wear), can brighten them while clarifying the complexion.
—Jessie Quinn, StyleCaster, 6 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for brighten
Recent Examples of Synonyms for brighten
Verb
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Low-fat milk and cheese lighten it up a bit for a healthier take on feel-good supper.—
Mary Shannon Wells,
Southern Living,
9 Nov. 2025
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Some of the most noteworthy changes include new hull windows to bring light into the two-stateroom cabin, a swoosh line in the hull profile that lightens the view of the stern, and a 30 percent larger carbon T-top.—
Michael Verdon,
Robb Report,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
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The 20th Century and Disney pic is coming well ahead of expectations, thanks to glowing reviews and equally growing audience reaction.—
Pamela McClintock,
HollywoodReporter,
8 Nov. 2025
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At that point, out of the vast and silent ether, messages will come glowing into your inbox one after another.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Even before he was forced from office, Oli began to hew closer to China, breaking protocol in 2024 by visiting Beijing before New Delhi to revive dormant rail talks and security coordination.—
MUHIB RAHMAN,
Foreign Affairs,
12 Nov. 2025
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For many Venezuelans, still reeling from years of hyper-inflation before the pandemic lockdowns, the new price hikes revive a familiar nightmare.—
Stefano Pozzebon,
CNN Money,
11 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Brighten.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/brighten. Accessed 17 Nov. 2025.
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