bright 1 of 2

adjective

ˈbrīt How to pronounce bright (audio)
Definition of brightnext
1
as in shining
giving off or reflecting much light in the desert the sun was so bright that it hurt my eyes the moon is bright tonight

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2
as in illuminated
filled with much light the display windows of department stores are especially bright at Christmastime

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3
as in cheerful
having or showing a good mood or disposition always walks into work with a bright smile on his face

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4
as in intelligent
having or showing quickness of mind a company that is always looking for bright, ambitious college graduates

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5
as in promising
having qualities which inspire hope predicted a bright future for the young math whiz

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6
as in favorable
pointing toward a happy outcome all the signs are bright right now for an economic boom

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7
as in cheering
serving to lift one's spirits a bright and beautiful morning to begin planting our garden

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8
as in outstanding
standing above others in rank, importance, or achievement a bright new star on the operatic scene

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9
as in radiant
having or being an outward sign of good feelings (as of love, confidence, or happiness) a room full of summer interns with bright, eager faces

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10
as in sunny
not stormy or cloudy we'll have a picnic on the next bright day

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bright

2 of 2

adverb

as in brightly
in a manner marked by the shining or reflecting of much light the storm passed, and once again the sun shone bright

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Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective bright differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of bright are brilliant, luminous, lustrous, and radiant. While all these words mean "shining or glowing with light," bright implies emitting or reflecting a high degree of light.

When is brilliant a more appropriate choice than bright?

While the synonyms brilliant and bright are close in meaning, brilliant implies intense often sparkling brightness.

In what contexts can luminous take the place of bright?

While in some cases nearly identical to bright, luminous implies emission of steady, suffused, glowing light by reflection or in surrounding darkness.

When would lustrous be a good substitute for bright?

The meanings of lustrous and bright largely overlap; however, lustrous stresses an even, rich light from a surface that reflects brightly without glittering.

When might radiant be a better fit than bright?

Although the words radiant and bright have much in common, radiant stresses the emission or seeming emission of rays of light.

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 bright
Adjective
Chanel became a key signifier for Anna, who’s often seen wearing a pair of baby blue boots by the brand, and whose bright orange and pink tweed dress echoes the intensity of the action at the film’s finale. — CNN Money, 17 July 2026 Topline Skywatchers are advised to look to the west shortly after sunset on Friday, July 17, and at the same time each evening this weekend, as a delicate crescent moon shines close to a bright Venus. — Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 17 July 2026 The Perseid meteor shower 2026 is set to be a truly magnificent affair and a stark contrast to last year, when moonlight drowned out all but the brightest shooting stars. — Anthony Wood, Space.com, 17 July 2026 That gave him the chance to swing under the bright lights on MLB’s derby night. — Steve Millar, Chicago Tribune, 17 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for bright
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bright
  1. shining
  2. illuminated
  3. cheerful
  4. intelligent
  5. promising
  6. favorable
  7. outstanding
  8. radiant
Adjective
  • At a time of so much partisanship in Congress, especially related to health care, breakthrough legislation is a shining example of how commonsense policies that support patient care and innovation can achieve broad support.
    — Josh Makower, STAT, 16 Mar. 2026
  • Those memories will remain some of the most shining and unforgettable moments of my life.
    — Jeff Benjamin, Forbes.com, 12 Mar. 2026
Definition of shining
Adjective
  • Developers who use multiple AI agents simultaneously can switch between them using the illuminated keys, and a dedicated voice recorder shortcut supports spoken prompts.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 15 July 2026
  • That means Earth's only natural satellite will be invisible to Earth as its illuminated side faces the moon, NASA explains.
    — Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 14 July 2026
Definition of illuminated
Adjective
  • On April 24, a 54-year-old male had a cardiac emergency on the attraction, a gentle boat ride that floats by scenes featuring cheerful puppets.
    — Dewayne Bevil, The Orlando Sentinel, 17 July 2026
  • Our supervisors are paid FIFA employees who manage to maintain a cheerful outlook under what are sometimes stressful conditions.
    — Eric Nager, Christian Science Monitor, 13 July 2026
Definition of cheerful
Adjective
  • The disagreements were intelligent, experienced, and specific — and reading them in bulk did not soften my view.
    — Sachin H. Jain, Forbes.com, 18 July 2026
  • Both Blink and Wyze offer intelligent outdoor cameras that can withstand the elements while recording activities day or night.
    — BestReviews, Mercury News, 17 July 2026
Definition of intelligent
Adjective
  • One promising sign is how billionaire investor Warren Buffett is handling his philanthropy.
    — Thomas Adam, The Conversation, 16 July 2026
  • Julian Evans-Pritchard, head of China economics at Capital Economics, wrote Wednesday that while growth has long been expected to slow, the recent economic data held some promising signs of stabilizing consumer activity.
    — Stephanie Yang, CNN Money, 15 July 2026
Definition of promising
Adjective
  • Gaps in disclosure have prompted calls to reform the ethics and lobbying laws so that the public can easily see who is providing the expensive perks to state officials who have the power to reward them with favorable legislation and other actions.
    — Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 15 July 2026
  • Those numbers changed considerably when broken down by political party, with Republicans having a more favorable view of the economy than Democrats.
    — Eleanor Dearman, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 15 July 2026
Definition of favorable
Adjective
  • After dark, the remote far-western location and low levels of artificial light make this region an outstanding destination for viewing the Perseid meteor shower.
    — Jamie Carter, Space.com, 15 July 2026
  • It was also nominated for 12 Emmy Awards, winning one for outstanding lead actress in a comedy series for Arthur in 1977.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 15 July 2026
Definition of outstanding
Adjective
  • My latest obsession comes courtesy of the Duchess of Sussex, whose smooth, radiant complexion is thanks to this underrated foundation from the brand No Makeup Makeup.
    — Alyssa Morin, InStyle, 18 July 2026
  • How to spot Perseid shooting stars Perseid meteors can be spotted anytime after dark from tonight onwards, streaking away from a patch of sky, or radiant, located close to the red supergiant star Eta Persei in the constellation Perseus.
    — Anthony Wood, Space.com, 17 July 2026
Definition of radiant

Browse Nearby Words

brigantines
bright
brighten
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Cite this Entry

“Bright.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bright. Accessed 22 Jul. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of bright for Spanish Speakers

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