redden
Americanverb (used with object)
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reddens,
present (3rd person singular)
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reddened,
past participle, past
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reddening
present participle
verb (used without object)
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reddens,
present (3rd person singular)
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reddened,
past participle, past
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reddening
present participle
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to become red.
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to blush; flush.
verb
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to make or become red
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(intr) to flush with embarrassment, anger, etc; blush
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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reddensimple
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reddenssimple
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have reddenedperfect
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has reddenedperfect
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am reddeningprogressive
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are reddeningprogressive
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is reddeningprogressive
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have been reddeningperfect progressive
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has been reddeningperfect progressive
Past
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reddenedsimple
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had reddenedperfect
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was reddeningprogressive
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were reddeningprogressive
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had been reddeningperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of redden
Explanation
When something reddens, its color changes so that it looks red. In autumn, the leaves on some trees redden before they fall to the ground. If the sky reddens at dusk, you might remember the rhyme "red sky at night, sailor's delight." Pale people redden too, when they blush or flush with embarrassment. A child coloring a picture with crayons might redden the sky and shade the trees blue and purple. The Old English root, meaning "become red," is readian.
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:
From its color, Ellis and his colleagues knew at least some of its stars were mature, because they tend to redden with age.
From Science Magazine ● Jun. 30, 2022
He stops talking, his eyes redden, he takes a deep breath, and reaches for his cup of tea.
From BBC ● Jun. 22, 2019
Bliss “is the exact reason women and men don’t report these crimes,” Feden said, as Bliss’ face appeared to redden.
From Reuters ● Apr. 26, 2018
His eyes began to redden with a mix of nostalgia and anger.
From Washington Post ● Jul. 29, 2016
I could see Selena’s face redden as she stood up and shoved the phone into the back pocket of her jeans.
From "The First Rule of Punk" by Celia C. Pérez
I suspect the raw, honest anger that reddens her eyes comes from a place of knowing and experience.
From Salon ● Sep. 24, 2023
The first signs can be harmless, similar to mild side effects that usually pass quickly: after a shot, the skin around the injection site reddens; after taking drops, the oral mucosa itches.
From Scientific American ● May 4, 2023
He explained he takes antibiotics every day as he has rosacea, which reddens and can deform the face.
From BBC ● Jan. 26, 2022
Ceylon has a yellow perianth with a rich orange cup that reddens over the blooming period.
From Seattle Times ● Oct. 6, 2021
His face reddens to a deep crimson, the veins on his neck taut like wires pulled too tight.
From "Internment" by Samira Ahmed
The heat from the fire melted the paint on some helmets and reddened the skin in the small gaps between the masks, Marchuk said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 18, 2026
With a slightly reddened forehead, Ven turns his head to speak to me.
From BBC ● Aug. 23, 2025
Among those hit was Conway, who rushed to the side to have their reddened eyes washed out with water.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 10, 2025
The silhouette then burst into a reddened field of 20 silhouettes throughout the arena.
From Seattle Times ● Apr. 19, 2024
“You saved the hen,” I said, and ran my hand along her reddened cheek.
From "Nory Ryan’s Song" by Patricia Reilly Giff
He described how there was a reddening of the skin around Noah's forehead as well as "extensive maceration and peeling" of his hands and feet.
From BBC ● Mar. 10, 2026
It isn’t blood reddening Kelson’s skin, but iodine.
From Salon ● Jan. 23, 2026
The large balding man in long sleeves roars with every splashed basket, gestures with every scintillating pass, face reddening, arms flailing, celebrating so hard he once ripped a hole in his dress shirt.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 16, 2024
In a recent study, researchers from Japan found an efficient and low-resource approach to trigger a reddening reaction in E. gracilis using red light and a bonito fish-based culture medium.
From Science Daily ● Apr. 15, 2024
He took out his handkerchief and blotted furiously at his upper lip, his freckles standing out like specks of dirt against his reddening complexion.
From "The City Beautiful" by Aden Polydoros
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.
