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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 brighten
The off-white wash feels especially fresh for spring, offering a softer alternative to stark white, while still brightening your wardrobe.
—
Rosie Marder, Travel + Leisure, 2 June 2026
No true irascible aging genius worth his salt is without a ready supply of white socks brightening up the chest of drawers.
—Guy Martin, Forbes.com, 1 June 2026
Come grow your circle, and brighten someone’s day, too!
—Kris Slugg, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 June 2026
Here, a blend of low dose ascorbic acid and glutathione help to brighten hyperpigmentation.
—Rosa Jisoo Pyo, Vogue, 31 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for brighten
Rosie Marder, Travel + Leisure, 2 June 2026
No true irascible aging genius worth his salt is without a ready supply of white socks brightening up the chest of drawers.
—Guy Martin, Forbes.com, 1 June 2026
Come grow your circle, and brighten someone’s day, too!
—Kris Slugg, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 June 2026
Here, a blend of low dose ascorbic acid and glutathione help to brighten hyperpigmentation.
—Rosa Jisoo Pyo, Vogue, 31 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for brighten
Recent Examples of Synonyms for brighten
Verb
-
His workload was certainly lightened with the casting of Cayleigh Capaldi as his Maria.—
Christopher Smith,
Oc Register,
4 June 2026
-
Not the irony of having a skin-lightening condition (or predilection) while singlehandedly Blackening up the portals of pop music by integrating a music video network that upheld America's racist standard of (in)visibility.—
Rodney Carmichael,
NPR,
3 June 2026
Verb
-
At Palisades State Park, striking red-pink Sioux quartzite cliffs jut up to 50 feet above Split Rock Creek, their jagged faces almost glowing against a backdrop of bucolic farmland.—
Taryn Shorr-Mckee,
Midwest Living,
4 June 2026
-
Although the building is gray and the galleries dark, the contents glow.—
Justin Davidson,
Curbed,
4 June 2026
Verb
-
Named after the historic Pacific Electric red car system, the venue aims to revive a sense of cultural connection in Los Angeles.—
Erica Olsen,
CBS News,
31 May 2026
-
Plemons also revived the group for the show’s 10th anniversary in 2016 at the same festival, with Kirsten Dunst in attendance.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
30 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Brighten.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/brighten. Accessed 7 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
