brightness

noun

bright·​ness ˈbrīt-nəs How to pronounce brightness (audio)
1
a
: the quality or state of being bright
also : an instance of such a quality or state
b
2
: the attribute of light-source colors by which emitted light is ordered continuously from light to dark in correlation with its intensity compare hue sense 2c, lightness entry 1 sense 2a, saturation sense 4

Examples of brightness in a Sentence

the brightness of the sunshine made me squint after an afternoon spent in a darkened movie theater
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.
Out of the box, in HDR Cinema mode, the Bravia 9 shows a peak brightness of 725 nits with a full-screen white field and a blazing 2,440 nits with an 18% white field. PCMAG, 6 Nov. 2024 Cranberry Sauce: Bourbon or Tennessee Whiskey’s Sweetness The tart, fruity brightness of cranberry sauce pairs nicely with a sweeter whiskey that can balance out its zing. Emily Price, Forbes, 4 Nov. 2024 Great for any room in the house, its light blue finish will bring some brightness and personality to your space. Mia Meltzer, Rolling Stone, 24 Oct. 2024 Penn State professor Joel Leja explains that machine learning is completely changing how astronomers process data, enabling rapid analysis of changes in star brightness and revealing orbiting planets. Shelli Brunswick, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for brightness 

Word History

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of brightness was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near brightness

Cite this Entry

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

Medical Definition

brightness

noun
bright·​ness ˈbrīt-nəs How to pronounce brightness (audio)
: the one of the three psychological dimensions of color perception by which visual stimuli are ordered continuously from light to dark and which is correlated with light intensity compare hue, saturation sense 4a

More from Merriam-Webster on brightness

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