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
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Recent Examples of brighten
But, as the reality sunk in, my outlook brightened.
—
Marni Jameson, Arkansas Online, 1 Aug. 2025
Beyond simply brightening someone else’s day, a smile can also uplift your mindset and approach in business environments, Cuban said.
—Geoff Colvin, Fortune, 31 July 2025
Luckily, the best teeth whitening strips can help lift discoloration and brighten your smile, with some claiming results in as little as 10 minutes.
—Iman Balagam, Vogue, 26 July 2025
Summer wildflowers brightened the canyon floor, their blooms vivid against the dense greenery and many swarmed by a wobbly squadron of butterflies.
—Roger Naylor, AZCentral.com, 1 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for brighten
Marni Jameson, Arkansas Online, 1 Aug. 2025
Beyond simply brightening someone else’s day, a smile can also uplift your mindset and approach in business environments, Cuban said.
—Geoff Colvin, Fortune, 31 July 2025
Luckily, the best teeth whitening strips can help lift discoloration and brighten your smile, with some claiming results in as little as 10 minutes.
—Iman Balagam, Vogue, 26 July 2025
Summer wildflowers brightened the canyon floor, their blooms vivid against the dense greenery and many swarmed by a wobbly squadron of butterflies.
—Roger Naylor, AZCentral.com, 1 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for brighten
Recent Examples of Synonyms for brighten
Verb
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Connor's father, Jim, took to X to lighten the moment that shocked many fans.—
Saajan Jogia,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 Aug. 2025
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The Silverado’s tires were inflated to their highest acceptable pressure for lower rolling resistance except for the spare, which was removed to lighten the load.—
Jackie Charniga,
Freep.com,
6 Aug. 2025
Verb
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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
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The Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts will glow orange, as well.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
13 Aug. 2025
Verb
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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
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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
Cite this Entry
“Brighten.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/brighten. Accessed 22 Aug. 2025.
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