brighten

[brahyt-n]

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verb (used with or without object)

to become or make bright or brighter.

Origin of brighten

First recorded in 1250–1300, brighten is from the Middle English word brightnen. See bright, -en¹

Related formsre·bright·en, verbun·bright·ened, adjective

Synonyms for brighten

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lighten; cheer, gladden, lift, hearten, perk up.

Antonyms for brighten

darken; deject, sadden.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words for brighten

enliven, lighten, illuminate, improve, illumine, gleam, burnish, polish, kindle, intensify, gladden, cheer, encourage, hearten

Examples from the Web for brighten

Contemporary Examples of brighten

Yes, its certainly something to brighten up the old Monday morning routine.
Prince Harry Parties TOPLESS
Tom Sykes
July 28, 2014
To brighten your winter, check out these amazing rare early color photographs of Paris about 1900.
When Paris was New
David Frum
January 28, 2013
As the overall economic picture in the United States continues to brighten, the job market remains a contentious issue.
Job Market’s Tough ‘New Normal’: Some Careers Aren’t Coming Back
Zachary Karabell
March 2, 2012
Eyelid lifts, which brighten the face and require little downtime, are his most popular surgeries.
Who Did Nancy Pelosi's New Face?
Sandra McElwaine
March 26, 2009

Historical Examples of brighten

"Brighten your lovely features with a smile, Katherine me dear," she said gaily.
Her Father's Daughter
Gene Stratton-Porter
Why should they brighten their tomahawks and sharpen their knives against each other?
The Last of the Mohicans
James Fenimore Cooper
It looked grave and bare, with not even a flower in a vase to brighten it.
The Three Cities Trilogy, Complete
Emile Zola
The face over which my lover bent did not brighten; nor the eyes recognize him.
The First Violin
Jessie Fothergill
Wash the dripping-pan in hot water with soda in it, and rub it with sand to brighten it.
The Skilful Cook
Mary Harrison

British Dictionary definitions for brighten

brighten

verb

to make or become bright or brighter
to make or become cheerful

Derived Formsbrightener, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for brighten

Old English *beorhtnian "to make bright" (see bright (adj.) + -en (1)). Intransitive sense, "to become brighter," attested from c.1300. Figurative use from 1590s. Related: Brightened; brightening.