Definition of "brighten"

brighten

/ˈbɹaɪtən/

verb
third-person singular simple present brightens, present participle brightening, simple past and past participle brightened
1. (transitive) To make bright or brighter in color.
2. (transitive) To make illustrious, or more distinguished; to add luster or splendor to
  Quotations
  The preſent Queen is a Prince of as many and great Virtues as ever filled a Throne: How would it brighten Her Character to the preſent and after Ages, if She would exert Her utmoſt Authority to inſtill ſome Share of thoſe Virtues into Her People, which they are too degenerate to learn only from Her Example.
  1709, [Jonathan Swift], A Project for the Advancement of Religion, and the Reformation of Manners. […], London: […] Benj[amin] Tooke, […], pages 58–59
3. (transitive, figuratively) To make more cheerful and pleasant; to enliven
  Quotations
  An Ecstasie, which Mothers only feel, / Plays round my heart and brightens up my sorrow.
  1712, Ambrose Philips, The Distrest Mother
  Chances for the measure's success brightened considerably […] with the elimination of the term "sexual orientation" […] The new term, "sexual status," has caused several former opponents of the bill […] to change their votes.
  1979 April 14, “Conn. Senate Votes Yes on SB 705”, in Gay Community News, page 1
4. (intransitive) To grow bright, or more bright in color; to clear up
5. (intransitive) To become brighter or more cheerful in mood
  Quotations
  Then his sallow face brightened, for the hall had been carefully furnished, and was very clean. ¶ There was a neat hat-and-umbrella stand, and the stranger's weary feet fell soft on a good, serviceable dark-red drugget, which matched in colour the flock-paper on the walls.
  1913, Mrs. [Marie] Belloc Lowndes, chapter II, in The Lodger, London: Methuen; republished in Novels of Mystery: The Lodger; The Story of Ivy; What Really Happened, New York, N.Y.: Longmans, Green and Co., […], page 0091

Definition of "brighten"

brighten

verb

Quotations

Quotations

Quotations