brighten
verb (used with or without object)
to become or make bright or brighter.
brightened
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past participleof brighten.past participle
A verb form used in perfect and passive verb constructions and that can also function as a modifier.
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past tense formof brighten.past tense
Used to describe completed actions or previous habitual actions.
brightenverb (used with or without object)to become or make bright or brighter.
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.
Rather than struggle with the weight of expectation, his performances have improved as the spotlight on him has brightened.
From BBC ● Sep. 27, 2026
Gillian Jones said she liked it and it "brightened her day".
From BBC ● Aug. 28, 2026
Her work focused on periods when the galaxy's X-ray output brightened in flares and on how the X-ray signal evolved in the hours afterward.
From Science Daily ● Jun. 19, 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
A shadow flitted across her face; then she brightened.
From "The Unseen Guest" by Maryrose Wood
