brighten

present singular third person brightens · participle present brightening · participle past brightened · past brightened · first person past singular brightened · archaic present second person singular brightenest · past second person singular brightened · archaic past second person singular brightenedst · present singular third person brightens · archaic present singular third person brighteneth · past singular third person brightened · past plural brightened · past subjunctive brightened · participle present brightening · participle past brightened

1. transitiveTo make bright or brighter in color.

   We brightened the room with a new coat of paint.

2. transitiveTo make illustrious, or more distinguished; to add luster or splendor to

   1 more example

   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, […], →OCLC, pages 58–59

3. figurativelytransitiveTo make more cheerful and pleasant; to enliven

   to brighten one’s prospects

   3 more examples

   Having Mark around the place really brightens things up.

   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. intransitiveTo grow bright, or more bright in color; to clear up

   The sky brightened as the storm moved on.

   1 more example

   The sun starts to brighten around this time of the year.

5. intransitiveTo become brighter or more cheerful in mood

   She brightened when I changed the subject.

   1 more example

   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, →OCLC; republished in Novels of Mystery: The Lodger; The Story of Ivy; What Really Happened, New York, N.Y.: Longmans, Green and Co., […], [1933], →OCLC, page 0091