brighten Hear it!

brighten Definition

brighten (brīt'n)

transitive verb, intransitive verb

  1. to make or become bright or brighter
  2. to make or become happy or happier; gladden; cheer up

Etymology: ME < OE brihtan < beorht, bright

brighten Synonyms

brighten

v.

  1. To become brighter

    clear up, lighten, grow calm, improve, grow sunny, become gentle, glow, kindle.

    Antonyms shade*, grow dull, darken. *

  2. To make brighter

    polish, burnish, lighten; see intensify, shine 3.

  3. To make more cheerful

    cheer, gladden, perk up; see encourage 2.

brighten Usage Examples

Followed by a transitive particle

  • up: Always use color to brighten up a dull Web Site.

Object

  • complexion: Naturally exfoliate and brighten the complexion with this non-drying, rebalancing preparation.
  • sky: Drops inside the cone brighten the sky inside the bow.
  • skin: Dissolve dirt, unplug pores, and brighten dull skin.
  • eye: To brighten eyes, treat twice daily with All About Eyes.
  • agent: The stock must be free of optical brightening agents.
  • face: Other faces brightened for The Writer, not for The Man.

Used with why or when

  • when: At least the mood brightened when we turned on the radio.

Particle object:

  • corner: Left over mosaic tiles have been used to create a movable work of art to brighten up darker corners.
  • evening: These will all be good events to brighten up the winter evenings.
  • bit: The weather had brightened up a bit too, the midday sun melting some of the frost.
  • room: We look to provide a sea of craft ideas that can brighten up any room.
  • street: The idea behind the hanging basket event was to get residents to brighten up the local streets by displaying the baskets outside their homes.
  • garden: They help to brighten up the late autumn garden.

Modifying Another Word

  • considerably: On arriving in Oxford the weather had brightened considerably.
  • instantly: Mix with your favorite foundation or apply direct to the skin to instantly brighten your complexion.
  • suddenly: During the outburst event, the normally faint star suddenly brightened, becoming 600,000 times more luminous than our Sun.
  • gradually: Mercury lamps strike and gradually brighten as they warm up - they have a distinctive cold blue light.
  • certainly: I love its beautiful orange flowers, which certainly brighten up the dull days of February.
  • soon: Day 3 The early morning was a little overcast, but soon brightened as the morning progressed.