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:
There’s no sign that appearances will soon brighten.
From Slate ● Sep. 4, 2026
While trends should begin to brighten in China–where tighter rules on boozing among public officials have hit cognac sales–the outlook in the U.S. market remains worrying for the group.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 27, 2026
One former senior minister told me Reeves had "spent a lot of time and energy painting a picture of her grim inheritance in the expectation things would brighten up quickly and she could claim credit".
From BBC ● Jul. 11, 2026
Rather than trying to brighten the room, he leaned into the moodiness by buying inexpensive, USB battery-powered spotlights that are mounted on the ceiling with magnets.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 26, 2026
It was a lazy sort of autumn day, the sky clear, the leaves beginning to brighten, the air warm.
From "My Side of the Mountain" by Jean Craighead George
If you enjoy heat, ask for extra basbaas, a green chile and cilantro sauce that brightens the whole plate.
From Salon ● Sep. 8, 2026
“It kind of brightens the day a little bit because it’s just so random.”
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 22, 2026
He said he had seen a few of the cranes at the site over the years which "always brightens up your day".
From BBC ● Apr. 9, 2026
“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
Then she brightens until I think she might pop.
From "Warcross" by Marie Lu
Rather than struggle with the weight of expectation, his performances have improved as the spotlight on him has brightened.
From BBC ● Sep. 27, 2026
“Often gliding by on her skateboard, with a smile that brightened her gorgeous blue eyes.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 24, 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
Expectations brightened for Germany’s automotive, chemical, and pharmaceutical sectors, but retreated for the construction sector.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 16, 2026
I smiled at him, and his face brightened.
From "Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus" by Dusti Bowling
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
The researchers expected marine cloud brightening to influence the climate, but not to this extent.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 3, 2026
“Well, let us see what we can do,” said M. Bouc, brightening a little at this challenge to his wits.
From "Murder on the Orient Express" by Agatha Christie
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
