brighten
Americanverb (used with or without object)
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brightens,
present (3rd person singular)
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brightened,
past participle, past
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brightening
present participle
verb
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to make or become bright or brighter
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to make or become cheerful
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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brightensimple
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brightenssimple
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have brightenedperfect
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has brightenedperfect
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am brighteningprogressive
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are brighteningprogressive
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is brighteningprogressive
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have been brighteningperfect progressive
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has been brighteningperfect progressive
Past
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brightenedsimple
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had brightenedperfect
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was brighteningprogressive
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were brighteningprogressive
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had been brighteningperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of brighten
First recorded in 1250–1300, brighten is from the Middle English word brightnen. See bright, -en 1
Explanation
To brighten is to make something lighter, the way you brighten your back yard with glowing patio lights or brighten up your gloomy bedroom by painting the walls yellow. When the sun comes out after several rainy days, it brightens your house and the walk to school, but it can also brighten your mood. This verb is perfect for both ways of making things light and cheerful — adding something that emits light or lending a happy or hopeful mood to a situation. Your best friend may be so funny and positive that they brighten a room just by walking in.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
In a tribute the extended family of five-year-old Nala said "her smile could brighten the darkest day"
From BBC ● Jul. 13, 2026
The olive brine acts almost like a finishing seasoning, bringing acidity and salinity that brighten the entire dish.
From Salon ● Jul. 7, 2026
With Tehran and Washington now having agreed a deal, which is due to be signed Friday in Switzerland, hopes are growing that the outlook will brighten.
From Barron's ● Jun. 16, 2026
“As soon as she meets Leo, there’s just something there even though his light has gotten dim and you see him brighten as they progress, as well,” Bertinelli says.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 8, 2026
It can be an explosion that ruins everything, or a beautiful power that can brighten cities.
From "A Heart in a Body in the World" by Deb Caletti
“With the record high gold prices, stronger sales volume growth brightens its earnings growth outlook,” the analyst says.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 10, 2026
Each fall, the Taurid meteor shower brightens the night sky from late October through early November.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 31, 2025
The subsequent Weoley Warriors group encouraged flags to be put up and it previously told the BBC Midlands Today programme that "we really hope it brightens your day and brings joy and love".
From BBC ● Aug. 28, 2025
The sun isn’t to blame for light pollution that brightens the night sky, though — we are.
From Salon ● Apr. 4, 2025
Hideo smiles at me, truly smiles, in a way that brightens his eyes.
From "Warcross" by Marie Lu
"She was always cheerful, positive and kind, with a smile on her face and a warmth that brightened the day of those around her," he said.
From BBC ● Jun. 12, 2026
It will arrive after a fairly quiet year for IPOs that was brightened last week when Cerebras Systems, a Sunnyvale company that makes semiconductors for AI supercomputers, went public.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 20, 2026
Confidence among German investors brightened unexpectedly this month on hopes for a prompt end to the Iran war, though it still remains deep in negative territory as firms navigate higher energy prices.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 12, 2026
The outlook for managed-care players brightened significantly at the start of April.
From Barron's ● Apr. 29, 2026
The ticket seller’s pockmarked face brightened in a wide smile.
From "Half of a Yellow Sun" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
After the analysis, she was able to pick from care packages, each with a different purpose, such as slowing aging, hydrating the skin, clarifying it or brightening it.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 17, 2026
A street artist known as the "Minion Man" has turned his attention to brightening up his area's dirty and vandalised street cabinets.
From BBC ● Aug. 4, 2026
Already, the technical picture for stocks is brightening, signaling that the rebound in chip stocks and the broader momentum factor seen this week might continue, Kettern wrote.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 31, 2026
Marine cloud brightening concentrates particles close to Earth's surface in one specific region.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 3, 2026
Sarai could feel it growing, and even sense it brightening, as though Sparrow were infusing it with light.
From "Strange the Dreamer" by Laini Taylor
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
