brightness

noun

bright·​ness ˈbrīt-nəs 

1

a

: the quality or state of being bright

also : an instance of such a quality or state

b

: luminance

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

Synonyms

• brilliance
• brilliancy
• candor
• dazzle
• effulgence
• illumination
• lambency
• lightness
• luminance
• luminosity
• luminousness
• luster
• lustre
• lustrousness
• radiance
• refulgence
• splendor

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

Further, generative image editing is now available offline and a new virtual aperture too gives you real-time control over depth and brightness. —PCMAG, 24 Jan. 2025

Southern Collard Greens Recipe Cabbage Use it to add brightness to cabbage dishes. —Lisa Cericola, Southern Living, 20 Jan. 2025

Screen and brightness and enable the Show covers on lock screen option. —David Nield, WIRED, 18 Jan. 2025

Exceptions include satirical cartoons or images altered only to change the saturation, brightness, contrast, color or other superficial quality. —Alex Golden, Axios, 17 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

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

Medical Definition

brightness

noun

bright·​ness ˈbrīt-nəs 

: 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