bright

[ brahyt ]

/ braɪt /

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See synonyms for bright on Thesaurus.com

adjective, bright·er, bright·est.

radiating or reflecting light; luminous; shining: The bright coins shone in the gloom.

filled with light: The room was bright with sunshine.

vivid or brilliant: a bright red dress; bright passages of prose.

quick-witted or intelligent: They gave promotions to bright employees.

clever or witty, as a remark: Bright comments enlivened the conversation.

animated; lively; cheerful: a bright and happy child; a bird's bright song.

characterized by happiness or gladness: All the world seems bright and gay.

favorable or auspicious: bright prospects for the future.

radiant or splendid: the bright pageantry of court.

illustrious or glorious, as an era: the bright days of the Renaissance.

clear or translucent, as liquid: The bright water trickled through his fingers.

having a glossy, glazed, or polished finish.

intensely clear and vibrant in tone or quality; clear and sharp in sound: a bright singing voice.

noun

brights,

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

flue-cured, light-hued tobacco.

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

Archaic. brightness; splendor.

adverb, bright·er, bright·est.

in a bright manner; brightly.

OTHER WORDS FOR bright

1 radiant, refulgent, effulgent, lustrous, lucent, beaming, lambent.

4 keen, discerning, sharp, sharp-witted, ingenious, clever.

8 promising, encouraging.

See synonyms for bright on Thesaurus.com

OPPOSITES FOR bright

1 dull, dim.

See antonyms for bright on Thesaurus.com

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Origin of bright

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 (<*berkto-); akin to Latin flagrāre to blaze (see flagrant), Albanian (i) bardhë white, Sanskrit bhrājate(it) shines

synonym study for bright

1. 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.

OTHER WORDS FROM bright

brightish, adjectivebrightly, adverbo·ver·bright, adjectiveo·ver·bright·ly, adverb

o·ver·bright·ness, nounsu·per·bright, adjectiveun·bright, adjectiveun·bright·ly, adverbun·bright·ness, noun

Other definitions for bright (2 of 2)

Bright

[ brahyt ]

/ braɪt /

noun

John, 1811–89, British statesman and economist.

Richard, 1789–1858, English physician.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use bright in a sentence

“For almost 40 years, he was the brightest star in the comedy galaxy,” he said.
Billy Crystal's Tribute to Robin Williams at the Emmys Was Perfect|Kevin Fallon|August 26, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Which brings us back to the possible IMBH, known Star Trekishly as M82 X-1, the brightest X-ray source in M82.
The Goldilocks of Black Holes|Matthew R. Francis|August 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST
So we tried to think of the freshest, healthiest, brightest, cleanest restaurant we knew.
Finding Food Heaven on the Cali Coast|Jane & Michael Stern|August 17, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Fino and Manzanilla age beneath healthy layers flor and are therefore the crispest and brightest.
Why Maya Angelou Loved Sherry, The Drink of Brilliant Renegades|Jordan Salcito|June 15, 2014|DAILY BEAST

It also was a showcase for moral bankruptcy, prompting thousands of its best and brightest citizens to flee abroad.
Poland’s Warmed-Over Cold Warrior|Andrew Nagorski|May 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Then, if you gentlemen are successful here, and capture Fulton and Jefferson City, our brightest hopes will be fulfilled.
The Courier of the Ozarks|Byron A. Dunn
She was dressed in her brightest skirt and fairly shone with the abundance of cheap jewelry she wore.
Alila, Our Little Philippine Cousin|Mary Hazelton Wade
The earth had donned her mantle of brightest green, and shed her richest perfumes abroad.
Oliver Twist, Vol. II (of 3)|Charles Dickens
To-day this young Scotchman is one of the brightest lights in the higher walks of literature in Great Britain.
Friend Mac Donald|Max O'Rell
Each one struggled to gain for himself the most earth, the best air, the brightest sun.
Stories the Iroquois Tell Their Children|Mabel Powers

British Dictionary definitions for bright (1 of 2)

bright

/ (braɪt) /

adjective

emitting or reflecting much light; shining

(of colours) intense or vivid

full of promisea bright future

full of animation; cheerfula bright face

informal quick witted or clevera bright child

magnificent; gloriousa bright victory

polished; glisteninga bright finish

(of the voice) distinct and clear

(of a liquid) translucent and cleara circle of bright water

bright and early very early in the morning

noun

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

poetic brightness or splendourthe bright of his armour

adverb

brightlythe fire was burning bright

Derived forms of bright

brightly, adverb

Word Origin for bright

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

British Dictionary definitions for bright (2 of 2)

Bright

/ (braɪt) /

noun

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

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

Other Idioms and Phrases with bright

bright

In addition to the idioms beginning with bright

bright and early
bright idea
bright side

also see:

look on the bright side

bright

OTHER WORDS FOR bright

OPPOSITES FOR bright

Origin of bright

synonym study for bright

OTHER WORDS FROM bright

Other definitions for bright (2 of 2)

Words related to bright

How to use bright in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for bright (1 of 2)

Derived forms of bright

Word Origin for bright

British Dictionary definitions for bright (2 of 2)

Other Idioms and Phrases with bright