as in to lighten
to become glad or hopeful
the glum soccer player started to brighten upon being told that his injury would not jeopardize his career
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of brighten
Before washing your white clothes (in their own separate load, of course), soak them in a mixture of hot water and 1 cup of vinegar to allow the acid to brighten the fabrics.
—
Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 4 Jan. 2026
Snag the black ones to anchor multiple outfits, or the light grey pair to brighten up the dreary season.
—Julia Morlino, Travel + Leisure, 4 Jan. 2026
Self-respect strengthens your actions and brightens the path ahead.
—Tarot.com, New York Daily News, 2 Jan. 2026
Harvest Moon Indoor/Outdoor 9-Inch Table Lamp For hassle-free lighting, this Harvest Moon indoor and outdoor lamp will brighten your dark spaces without the need for wires or plugs.
—Nicole Pyles, Better Homes & Gardens, 31 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for brighten
Recent Examples of Synonyms for brighten
Verb
-
Characterized by their faded or worn-out effect, as if their original color had been lightened by washing, these beloved jeans stand out for their vintage and carefree air.—
-
The energy lightens and speeds up in the final third of the month.—
Verb
-
But at no time was her skin not glowing through.—
-
That's when the stars will really be glowing.—
Verb
-
Barnes & Noble will open four new bookstores in the Chicago area by summertime, including a flagship location downtown on State Street, part of a national move to revive its brick-and-mortar retail presence.—
-
An effort to set that up stalled in the California legislature last year, but there's a growing pressure to revive something like it.—
Cite this Entry
“Brighten.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/brighten. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share