to brighten up
17
2.7
- phrasal verb
- /ˈbraɪtən ʌp/
- Informal
:
alegrar
- And then, yes, there were also those who could brighten up a room just by leaving.
- brighten up your day
- brighten up the room
- brighten up the place
And that's just to brighten up these inner corners.
- And that's just to brighten up these inner corners.
- The skin is brightened up and it looks cleaner.
- It just naturally brightens up the eye.
- And it's like really good, it really brightens up this area of my face.
Examples
-
You will witness that every child's face brightens up when these guys arrive.
Blog text (11) -
But... I've brought you something that will brighten up your day.
-
I just love how much it brightens up my face.
-
And it's like really good, it really brightens up this area of my face.
-
And I find this brightens up my eyes like so much.
-
Just something to brighten up the day.
-
We enjoyed every single day she was here, brightening up our lives with her love.
Blog text (22) -
Making music as your alarm clock can brighten up your morning or start your day right.
Blog text (4) -
And because I have dark hardwood floors, the rug just kind of brightens up the entire living space.
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I always find that a nice cookie can brighten up even the darkest day.
Synonyms
392
1.0
To make someone feel happier
234
1.4
To feel happier after being sad or to make someone feel happier
104
3.4
To make people or a situation feel more cheerful
69
4.1
To become or make someone feel more cheerful and relaxed
66
3.9
To make or become more active and interesting
65
3.7
To make someone feel more active and alert
54
1.0
Cause someone to feel happy or amused
28
4.1
Make someone feel excited and full of energy
27
2.7
To make a place or thing look more cheerful by adding color
26
5.5
To give more energy and make someone or something feel lively
24
5.5
Make a person or thing look and feel younger
23
3.2
To make someone feel happier and more hopeful
19
3.7
To make someone feel happier and more hopeful
16
3.1
Become more lively and cheerful after feeling tired or sad
14
6.3
To become or make someone more cheerful and confident
8
2.8
To make someone feel happier or more cheerful
8
3.9
To make someone feel happier
6
4.1
Make something more active and interesting
6
3.7
Become lively and cheerful because someone is there
4
4.9
To make someone or something more lively
4
3.6
To make something more exciting or interesting
3
4.1
To give new energy and enthusiasm to a person or thing
3
4.1
Make someone or something more lively and interesting
3
3.4
Make a room feel happier and more lively
3
3.8
Make a room feel happy and friendly when someone arrives
2
5.1
Make something more interesting and lively, like a room or outfit
1
6.7
To make something full of life and energy
1
3.9
To make someone feel happier when they are sad
1
8.2
To make something more lively or bright
1
3.4
Help someone feel happier
To make someone feel more cheerful and confident
Make an event like a party more lively and exciting
To make something more lively or exciting
To try to make someone feel happier when they are sad
To make someone feel happier or more lively
Antonyms
How Cheerful
- Informal
66
3.9
- Informal
17
2.7
- Informal
234
1.4
- Informal
16
3.1
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning 'to make or become more cheerful, lively, or attractive' is directly derivable from combining 'brighten' (to make more bright/cheerful) with the particle 'up', which signals an increase or improvement. This verb+up compositional pattern is common and predictable in English (and mirrored in many languages), so a B1 learner who knows the constituents would readily understand the MWE.
Etymology
Brighten up comes from a simple picture: to brighten is to make a place or face lighter and up means more. So when the sun comes out or you add light or colour, a room or a person's mood 'brightens up' and becomes more 'cheerful' or 'attractive'.