brightened; brightening
ˈbrīt-niŋ 
ˈbrī-tᵊn-iŋ
1
: to make bright or brighter
you brightened my day
2
: to enhance or intensify the flavor of (food) especially by adding an acidic element (such as citrus juice or vinegar)
Crisp lemon slices brighten smoky bacon and rosemary-infused trout.—
Melissa Roberts-Matar
Melissa Roberts-MatarExamples of brighten in a Sentence
He brightened the picture on the television.
Flowers can brighten any room.
The good news brightened her mood.
The sky brightened after the storm.
Business prospects brightened last month.
Her face brightened in relief when she heard that he was not hurt.
Recent Examples on the Web
The goal is to brighten—not shrink or damage—your fabrics, so pay special attention to heat sensitivity and fiber type.
—
Quincy Bulin,
Southern Living,
1 July 2026
Here are 10 classic red, white, and blue French tip designs that will brighten up your holiday weekend!
—
Afia Asamoah,
InStyle,
1 July 2026
The scale of recent left-wing victories in New York brightened the spotlight on progressive Democrats everywhere, especially in politically competitive states.
—
David Weigel,
semafor.com,
1 July 2026
The constellation would also brighten the night sky by up to 300 percent, Hanuit calculated.
—
Tereza Pultarova,
Space.com,
1 July 2026
See All Example Sentences for brighten
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Quincy Bulin,
Southern Living,
1 July 2026
Here are 10 classic red, white, and blue French tip designs that will brighten up your holiday weekend!
—
Afia Asamoah,
InStyle,
1 July 2026
The scale of recent left-wing victories in New York brightened the spotlight on progressive Democrats everywhere, especially in politically competitive states.
—
David Weigel,
semafor.com,
1 July 2026
The constellation would also brighten the night sky by up to 300 percent, Hanuit calculated.
—
Tereza Pultarova,
Space.com,
1 July 2026
See All Example Sentences for brighten
Cite this Entry
“Brighten.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/brighten. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
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