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
To brighten it up while retaining some of the original wood detailing (including the knotty pine beams), the designer replaced half of it with tile and paint—Farrow & Ball Slipper Satin (No. 2004) on the walls, ceiling, and trim and Mole's Breath (No. 276) on the island.
—
Cameron Beall, Southern Living, 17 May 2025
His smile has brightened the locker room, his bat has energized a once-impotent segment of the lineup and his speed has transformed their offense.
—Dylan Hernández, Los Angeles Times, 16 May 2025
Choose White Paint White is a go-to when choosing a paint color that reflects light, brightens a space, and makes a room look bigger.
—Maria Sabella, Better Homes & Gardens, 15 May 2025
The service harnesses the prebiotic power of sugar beets; the vegetable contains vitamin C and antioxidants that aid in brightening the skin.
—Tiffany Leigh, Forbes.com, 6 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for brighten
Cameron Beall, Southern Living, 17 May 2025
His smile has brightened the locker room, his bat has energized a once-impotent segment of the lineup and his speed has transformed their offense.
—Dylan Hernández, Los Angeles Times, 16 May 2025
Choose White Paint White is a go-to when choosing a paint color that reflects light, brightens a space, and makes a room look bigger.
—Maria Sabella, Better Homes & Gardens, 15 May 2025
The service harnesses the prebiotic power of sugar beets; the vegetable contains vitamin C and antioxidants that aid in brightening the skin.
—Tiffany Leigh, Forbes.com, 6 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for brighten
Recent Examples of Synonyms for brighten
Verb
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While some Democrats are looking to lighten the bureaucratic load, Trump and his congressional allies see it as an effective way to achieve their goal of barring low- and middle-income households from accessing government assistance.—
Howard Gleckman,
Forbes.com,
9 June 2025
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When friendships implode: Elon Musk says Trump 'would have lost the election' Social media reacts to Trump, Musk feud While there are some serious claims being thrown around, the internet attempted to lighten the mood with jokes − even some fellow politicians chimed in.—
Melina Khan,
USA Today,
6 June 2025
Verb
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How to Use: Start with a fresh canvas—exfoliate the day before to sweep away dead skin and prep for a smooth, even glow.—
Jenny Berg,
Vogue,
2 June 2025
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Saturn will glow in the sky to the right, and the sparkly Pleiades star cluster will be visible just to the pair’s left.—
Stephanie Vermillion,
Travel + Leisure,
2 June 2025
Verb
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In recent years, critics like White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller have revived the concept of reverse discrimination.—
Jessica Guynn,
USA Today,
6 June 2025
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Coco Chanel herself was a beacon of reincarnation having revived her brand against stunning odds in the post-WWII era.—
Paige Reddinger,
Robb Report,
5 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Brighten.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/brighten. Accessed 17 Jun. 2025.
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