# brighten

> English word · Verb · IPA /ˈbɹaɪtən/ · frequency rank #20,862

## Definitions
1. To make bright or brighter in color.
2. To make illustrious, or more distinguished; to add luster or splendor to
3. To make more cheerful and pleasant; to enliven
4. To grow bright, or more bright in color; to clear up
5. To become brighter or more cheerful in mood

## Etymology
From bright + -en.

## Easily confused with
- **Brighton** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/brighten-vs-brighton)
- **brighter** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/brighten-vs-brighter)
- **brightly** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/brighten-vs-brightly)
- **brightest** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/brighten-vs-brightest)
- **bright** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bright-vs-brighten)
- **blighted** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/blighted-vs-brighten)

## Common misspellings (13)
`bbrighten`, `birghten`, `brgihten`, `brigghten`, `brighetn`, `brighhten`, `brightenn`, `brightne`, `brightten`, `brigthen`, `brihgten`, `brrighten`, `rbighten`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/brighten