brighten

verb

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

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

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.
Over time, the antibacterial and antiinflammatory ingredient will help to soften and smooth the skin’s texture, and even brighten it. Neha Tandon, Glamour, 28 Oct. 2024 The result is a French-California bistro where beef tartare gets brightened by the crunch of green beans and amberjack crudo receives a garnish of cucumber and grape salad. Stephanie Breijo, Los Angeles Times, 15 Oct. 2024 Streetlights are brightening the future for more convenient public battery electric vehicle charging. Ed Garsten, Forbes, 4 Nov. 2024 Warm lights, frosted greenery, and shimmery ribbon all help brighten the powerful use of black hue. Halee Miller Van Ryswyk, Better Homes & Gardens, 31 Oct. 2024 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

Dictionary Entries Near brighten

Cite this Entry

“Brighten.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/brighten. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.

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

More from Merriam-Webster on brighten

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!