| Brighten 1. (v.) To make bright or brighter; to make to shine; to increase the luster of; to give a brighter hue to. 2. (v.) To make illustrious, or more distinguished; to add luster or splendor to. 3. (v.) To improve or relieve by dispelling gloom or removing that which obscures and darkens; to shed light upon; to make cheerful; as, to brighten one's prospects. 4. (v.) To make acute or witty; to enliven. 5. (v. i.) To grow bright, or more bright; to become less dark or gloomy; to clear up; to become bright or cheerful. Thesaurus Entries animate, beacon, boost, break, brighten up, buoy up, burnish, cheer, cheer up, dawn, encourage, enlighten, enliven, exhilarate, flood with light, floodlight, gild, gild the lily, give a lift, gladden, grow bright, grow light, hearten, highlight, illume, illuminate, illumine, inspire, inspirit, invigorate, irradiate, light, light up, lighten, liven, luminate, overshine, perk up, pick up, polish, rejoice, rejoice the heart, relume, relumine, shed light upon, shine, shine upon, spotlight, sweeten, throw light upon, vitalize |