brighten

1 of 2

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

brightener

2 of 2

noun

bright·​en·​er ˈbrīt-nər 

ˈbrī-tᵊn-ər

plural -s

1

: fluorescent brightener

2

: a chemical or mixture of chemicals added to an electroplating bath to increase the brightness of the plate (such as nickel plate)

Synonyms of brighten

Verb

• lighten
• glow
• revive

Examples of brighten in a Sentence

Verb

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

Verb

From setting up special meals to just brightening days with smiles and genuine care, the staff here lift the already luxury experience to the next level. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026

Here, the exclusive tech is enhanced with firming peptides, caffeine, and marine ferment, plus brightening kakudu plum extract. — Jenny Berg, Vogue, 6 Oct. 2026

There’s lots of neutral hues available but the sunny yellow will brighten up any window-deficient bathroom. — Audrey Lee, Architectural Digest, 6 Oct. 2026

The green is equally luscious in texture, made with chicken thigh and skin, but intensely herbaceous, brightened with parsley, cilantro, poblano and jalapeño. — Jenn Harris, Los Angeles Times, 5 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Verb

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