brighten
Americanverb (used with or without object)
verb
-
to make or become bright or brighter
-
to make or become cheerful
Other Word Forms
- brightener noun
- rebrighten verb
- unbrightened adjective
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.
These include Cepheid variable stars, which brighten and dim in predictable ways, red giant stars with known brightness, Type Ia supernovae, and certain galaxy types.
From Science Daily • Apr. 12, 2026
If you’ve wondered, Where the heck is this game being shown, I can’t find it anywhere, and I am going to start screaming at my pets, this news may brighten your day.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 10, 2026
Finally, consider setting up what I think of as a zhush station — a small collection of ingredients that allow guests to brighten and customize what’s on their plate.
From Salon • Mar. 15, 2026
The idea first came about after local man Robert Hicks asked if anything could be done to "brighten up the dark nights" in winter.
From BBC • Dec. 3, 2025
On-screen, Bruno’s surroundings brighten to signify the beginning of a new day.
From "I Can Make This Promise" by Christine Day
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.
