bright

¹

[brahyt]

adjective

brighter, brightest 

1. radiating or reflecting light; luminous; shining.

   The bright coins shone in the gloom.

   Synonyms: lambent, beaming, lucent, lustrous, effulgent, refulgent, radiant
   Antonyms: dim, dull

2. filled with light.

   The room was bright with sunshine.

3. vivid or brilliant.

   a bright red dress;

   bright passages of prose.

4. quick-witted or intelligent.

   They gave promotions to bright employees.

   Synonyms: clever, ingenious, sharp-witted, sharp, discerning, keen

5. clever or witty, as a remark.

   Bright comments enlivened the conversation.

6. animated; lively; cheerful.

   a bright and happy child;

   a bird's bright song.

7. characterized by happiness or gladness.

   All the world seems bright and gay.

8. favorable or auspicious.

   bright prospects for the future.

   Synonyms: promising

9. radiant or splendid.

   the bright pageantry of court.

10. illustrious or glorious, as an era.

    the bright days of the Renaissance.

11. clear or translucent, as liquid.

    The bright water trickled through his fingers.

12. having a glossy, glazed, or polished finish.

13. intensely clear and vibrant in tone or quality; clear and sharp in sound.

    a bright singing voice.

noun

1. brights,

   1. the automobile or truck headlights used for driving at night or under conditions of decreased visibility.

   2. the brighter level of intensity of these lights, usually deflected upward by switching on a bulb in the headlamp that strikes the lens at a different angle.

2. flue-cured, light-hued tobacco.

3. an artist's paintbrush having short, square-edged bristles.

4. Archaic.,  brightness; splendor.

adverb

brighter, brightest 

1. in a bright manner; brightly.

Bright

²

[brahyt]

noun

1. John, 1811–89, British statesman and economist.

2. Richard, 1789–1858, English physician.

bright

¹

/ braɪt /

adjective

1. emitting or reflecting much light; shining

2. (of colours) intense or vivid

3. full of promise

   a bright future

4. full of animation; cheerful

   a bright face

5. informal,  quick witted or clever

   a bright child

6. magnificent; glorious

   a bright victory

7. polished; glistening

   a bright finish

8. (of the voice) distinct and clear

9. (of a liquid) translucent and clear

   a circle of bright water

10. very early in the morning

noun

1. a thin flat paintbrush with a straight sharp edge used for highlighting in oil painting

2. poetic,  brightness or splendour

   the bright of his armour

adverb

1. brightly

   the fire was burning bright

Bright

²

/ braɪt /

noun

1. John . 1811–89, British liberal statesman, economist, and advocate of free trade: with Richard Cobden he led the Anti-Corn-Law League (1838–46)

Other Word Forms

• brightish adjective
• brightly adverb
• overbright adjective
• overbrightly adverb
• overbrightness noun
• superbright adjective
• unbright adjective
• unbrightly adverb
• unbrightness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of bright¹

First recorded before 1000; Middle English; Old English breht, beorht; cognate with Gothic bairht(s), Old Saxon ber(a)ht, Old High German beraht, Old Norse bjartr; Welsh berth “splendid”; akin to Latin flagrāre “to blaze” ( flagrant ( def. ) ), Albanian bardhë “white,” Sanskrit bhrājate “it shines”

Word History and Origins

Origin of bright¹

Old English beorht ; related to Old Norse bjartr , Gothic bairhts clear, Old High German beraht , Norwegian bjerk , Swedish brokig pied

Idioms and Phrases

• look on the bright side

Synonym Study

Bright, brilliant, radiant, shining refer to that which gives forth, is filled with, or reflects light. Bright suggests the general idea: bright flare, stars, mirror. Brilliant implies a strong, unusual, or sparkling brightness, often changeful or varied and too strong to be agreeable: brilliant sunlight. Radiant implies the pouring forth of steady rays of light, especially as are agreeable to the eyes: a radiant face. Shining implies giving forth or reflecting a strong or steady light: shining eyes.

Example Sentences

It’s only been a few weeks, so the full effect of my treatments has not quite kicked in, but to my eyes, my face looks brighter and a little bit lifted.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The explosions lit up the night sky in flashes of bright orange.

Read more on Barron's

She had a Spanish-style house with bright morning glory vines where she hosted a neighborhood screening of “To Catch a Thief” on her front lawn.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

He said their new products were being marketed as consumer products of harm reduction, but in fact bore characteristics that are "specifically attractive to children", such as bright colours and sweet flavours.

Read more on Barron's

Almost always, though, a good Chenin Blanc offers refreshingly bright acidity and aromas of pear, green apple and spice ideal for this often-weighty meal.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• blazing 
• brilliant 
• dazzling 
• flashing 
• glistening www.thesaurus.com
• glittering www.thesaurus.com
• golden 
• intense 
• luminous 
• radiant 
• shimmering www.thesaurus.com
• shiny 
• silvery 
• sparkling 
• sunny 
• vivid