brighten

  • 1Brighten — Bright en, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Brightened}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Brightening}.] Note: [From {Bright}, a.] 1. To make bright or brighter; to make to shine; to increase the luster of; to give a brighter hue to. [1913 Webster] 2. To make illustrious,… …

    The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • 2Brighten — Bright en, v. i. [AS. beorhtan.] To grow bright, or more bright; to become less dark or gloomy; to clear up; to become bright or cheerful. [1913 Webster] And night shall brighten into day. N. Cotton. [1913 Webster] And, all his prospects… …

    The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • 3brighten — [v1] make shine or glow buff up, burnish, clear up, enliven, gleam, grow sunny, illuminate, illumine, intensify, kindle, lighten, light up, polish, punch up*, spiff up*; concepts 244,250 Ant. darken, deepen, dull, fade brighten [v2] make happy,… …

    New thesaurus

  • 4brighten — index enhance Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 …

    Law dictionary

  • 5brighten — O.E. *beorhtnian to make bright (see BRIGHT (Cf. bright)). Intrans. sense, to become brighter, attested from c.1300. Figurative use from 1590s. Related: Brightened; brightening …

    Etymology dictionary

  • 6brighten — ► VERB 1) make or become brighter. 2) make or become happier and more cheerful …

    English terms dictionary

  • 7brighten — [brīt′ n] vt., vi. [ME < OE brihtan < beorht,BRIGHT] 1. to make or become bright or brighter 2. to make or become happy or happier; gladden; cheer up …

    English World dictionary

  • 8brighten — [[t]bra͟ɪt(ə)n[/t]] brightens, brightening, brightened 1) VERB If someone brightens or their face brightens, they suddenly look happier. Seeing him, she seemed to brighten a little... Oh, we d love to! cried Nancy, her face brightening. PHRASAL… …

    English dictionary

  • 9Brighten — Infobox musical artist Name = Brighten Img capt = From left to right: Justin, Alex, Ben, Austin Img size = Landscape = Background = group or band Alias = Origin = Chico, California, USA flagicon|United States Genre = Indie rock Years active =… …

    Wikipedia

  • 10brighten — bright|en [ braıtn ] verb 1. ) brighten or brighten up intransitive to start to have more color or light: The sky slowly brightened. a ) transitive to give something more color or light: Light colors brighten a dark room. 2. ) brighten or… …

    Usage of the words and phrases in modern English