Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

brighten

[ˈbɹaɪ̯ʔn̩]

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 3.25 in modern English

Syllables: bright-en
IPA: [ˈbɹaɪ̯ʔn̩]

14

Scrabble Score

8

Letters

2

Syllables

8

Unique Chars

Meaning

verb

To make bright or brighter in color.

Transitive verb

verb

To make illustrious, or more distinguished; to add luster or splendor to

Transitive verb

verb

To make more cheerful and pleasant; to enliven

Transitive verb

verb

To grow bright, or more bright in color; to clear up

Intransitive verb

verb

To become brighter or more cheerful in mood

Intransitive verb

Example Sentences

"We brightened the room with a new coat of paint."
"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."
"to brighten one’s prospects"
"Having Mark around the place really brightens things up."
"An Ecstasie, which Mothers only feel, / Plays round my heart and brightens up my sorrow."
"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."

Etymology

From bright + -en.

Regional Pronunciation

American English: [ˈbɹaɪ̯ʔn̩]

Usage

Inflected Forms

brightens (present, singular) brightening (participle, present) brightened (participle, past) brightened (past) no-table-tags (table tags) glossary (inflection template) brightened (first person, past) brightenest (archaic, present) brightened (past, second person) brightenedst (archaic, past) brighteneth (archaic, present) brightened (past, singular)

Derived Forms

brightenable brightener overbrighten rebrighten unbrightened upbrighten

Phrases

brighten up

Synonyms

lighten up lighten clear up clear light up

Homonyms

Brighton

Rhymes With

brighton titan tighten lighten enlighten frighten triton heighten whiten knighton guyton reitan

Questions

How do you pronounce brighten?: The recorded pronunciation is [ˈbɹaɪ̯ʔn̩].
What does brighten mean?: To make bright or brighter in color.
Where does brighten come from?: From bright + -en.

How to pronounce brighten

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “brighten”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling ([ˈbɹaɪ̯ʔn̩]) so you know which sounds to aim for.
Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “brighten”.
Repeat and practice — Say “brighten” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.