brighten

To make someone happier or make a place or experience more pleasant.

• Your message brightened my day.
• Fresh flowers brighten up the kitchen.
• Her jokes always brighten our long meetings.

How to use it: brighten something up (A few flowers would brighten the room up.)

Similar words: cheer up, enliven

Common phrases: brighten someone's day, brighten something up, brighten the room

To become happier, often showing it in your face or voice.

• She brightened when she saw her friend.
• His face brightened at the good news.
• The children soon brightened up after lunch.

Similar words: cheer up, perk up

Common phrases: brighten up, begin to brighten, suddenly brighten up

To become lighter or less dark.

• The sky began to brighten.
• The room brightened as the sun rose.
• Will the weather brighten up this afternoon?

Similar words: lighten, clear up

Opposites: darken, dim

Common phrases: brighten up, begin to brighten, start to brighten, colors brighten