brighten

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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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 While the right tune played at the right time can brighten a mood, syncing with a teammate can create a bond. Troy Renck, Denver Post, 14 Aug. 2025 The company also brightened its full-year revenue outlook to about $5.25 billion as customers use its infrastructure for AI inference. Andrew Nusca, Fortune, 13 Aug. 2025 Many remarked on how eagerly the dachshund duo ran to meet each other, while others shared how much the clip brightened their day. Melissa Fleur Afshar, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 Aug. 2025 But a moment later, despite the excruciating pain and the loss of blood, her eyes brightened. Literary Hub, 8 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for brighten
Recent Examples of Synonyms for brighten
Verb
  • After delving into the depths of their friendship, Tammy Sue lightens the mood by pointing out that both the dessert and Cody, their waiter, are making their mouths water.
    Brian Moylan, Vulture, 22 Aug. 2025
  • And then, as the vaccine became widely available, Scott’s crushing patient load lightened.
    Brenda Goodman, CNN Money, 20 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • Flaky croissants warm in glowing bakeries, accordion notes drift through the air, and lovers linger by the Seine.
    Lewis Nunn, Forbes.com, 14 Aug. 2025
  • Photographer Josh Dury captured a breathtaking view of Perseid meteors raining down alongside the glowing band of the Milky Way towards the Durdle Door rock formation on the coast of Dorset in the UK.
    Anthony Wood, Space.com, 13 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • In the guest room there, for instance, Charlotte revived the beloved seventies decorating trick, upholstering the bed, slipcovering the chairs, and framing the windows in textiles from Villa D’Ascoli’s collection for The Company Store.
    Betsy Cribb Watson, Southern Living, 17 Aug. 2025
  • Hours after Air Force One landed back in Washington, though, Trump seemed revived, embracing a new and entirely different plan for peace.
    Susan Page, USA Today, 16 Aug. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Brighten.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/brighten. Accessed 2 Sep. 2025.

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