verb Uncommon

brighten

BREYE-tuhn

Brighten (verb) means to make or become lighter or more vivid in colour. Example: “A coat of white paint brightened the whole room.”

verb

To make or become lighter or more vivid in colour.

"A coat of white paint brightened the whole room."

To make or become more cheerful.

"Her visit really brightened his day."

"His mood brightened as soon as the sun came out."

How to use brighten

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishTo make something lighter, more colourful, or more cheerful — or to become that way.

Common pairings

brighten up brighten someone's day brighten the mood

Word forms

brightened past tense, brighten plural, brightened plural, brightens singular, brighten singular, brightened singular, brightenest singular, brightenedst singular, brighteneth singular

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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

A coat of white paint _____ the whole room.

Etymology

From bright plus the verb-forming suffix -en.

Rhymes for brighten

tighten lighten frighten heighten enlighten straighten

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Frequently asked questions

What does “brighten” mean?

The word “brighten” means to make or become lighter or more vivid in colour. In plain terms, to make something lighter, more colourful, or more cheerful — or to become that way.

How do you pronounce “brighten”?

“Brighten” is pronounced BREYE-tuhn ([ˈbɹaɪ̯ʔn̩] in IPA).

How do you use “brighten” in a sentence?

Here is “brighten” used in a sentence: “A coat of white paint brightened the whole room.”

What part of speech is “brighten”?

“Brighten” is a verb.

Is “brighten” a common word?

“Brighten” is an uncommon word in modern English.

How many meanings does “brighten” have?

“Brighten” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to make or become lighter or more vivid in colour.