brighten

verb

bright·​en ˈbrī-tᵊn How to pronounce brighten (audio)
brightened; brightening ˈbrīt-niŋ How to pronounce brighten (audio)
ˈbrī-tᵊn-iŋ
Synonyms of brightennext

intransitive verb

: to become bright or brighter

transitive verb

1
: to make bright or brighter
you brightened my day
2
: to enhance or intensify the flavor of (food) especially by adding an acidic element (such as citrus juice or vinegar)
Crisp lemon slices brighten smoky bacon and rosemary-infused trout.—Melissa Roberts-Matar
brightener
ˈbrīt-nər How to pronounce brighten (audio)
ˈbrī-tᵊn-ər
noun

Synonyms of brighten

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Examples of brighten in a Sentence

He brightened the picture on the television. Flowers can brighten any room. The good news brightened her mood. The sky brightened after the storm. Business prospects brightened last month. Her face brightened in relief when she heard that he was not hurt.
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Phase 2 begins when the fragment reaches denser air, and the meteor begins to brighten. — Robert Lea, Space.com, 1 Sep. 2026 Apply this in the morning to brighten your skin and protect it from environmental stressors. — Maggie Ryan, Flow Space, 1 Sep. 2026 Along with many of the brand’s red light therapy tools, this device helps minimize fine lines and wrinkles, brightens your complexion, and, well, makes your skin look better. — Alyssa Grabinski, PEOPLE, 1 Sep. 2026 And as a lamp lights up a dark room, our faithfulness to God brightens the path for others, including government officials, to be more faithful, too. — The Christian Science Monitor, Christian Science Monitor, 1 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for brighten

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of brighten was in the 14th century

Rhymes for brighten

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Browse Nearby Words

bright emerald green
brighten
brightener
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Cite this Entry

“Brighten.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/brighten. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

brighten

verb
bright·​en ˈbrīt-ᵊn How to pronounce brighten (audio)
brightened; brightening ˈbrīt-niŋ How to pronounce brighten (audio)
-ᵊn-iŋ
: to make or become bright or brighter
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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