brighten

verb

bright·​en ˈbrī-tᵊn 

brightened; brightening ˈbrīt-niŋ 

ˈbrī-tᵊn-iŋ

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 

ˈbrī-tᵊn-ər

noun

Synonyms

• buck up
• cheer (up)
• lighten
• look up
• perk (up)

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

The grains were tender, pleasantly sticky, and subtly brightened with rice vinegar. —Rebekah Peppler, Travel + Leisure, 18 Mar. 2025

Hyaluronic acid boosts hydration, while apple extract brightens and smooths the skin. —Jenny Berg, Vogue, 14 Mar. 2025

Rochford’s Guinness Beef Stew is a rich, chunky dish infused with traditional Guinness beer and brightened with fresh rosemary, and cherry tomatoes. —Caron Golden, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Mar. 2025

Be the first to rate & review! Punchy and zingy lemon and Dijon mustard instantly brighten the classic carrot-raisin salad. —Kimberly Holland, Southern Living, 9 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Rhymes for brighten

• chitin
• frighten
• heighten
• lighten
• phaeton
• tighten
• titan
• triton
• whiten
• enlighten
• exciton
• periphyton

Kids Definition

brighten

verb

bright·​en ˈbrīt-ᵊn 

brightened; brightening ˈbrīt-niŋ 

-ᵊn-iŋ

: to make or become bright or brighter