bright

¹

[ brahyt ]

adjective

, bright·er, bright·est.

1. radiating or reflecting light; luminous; shining:

   The bright coins shone in the gloom.

   Synonyms: lambent, beaming, lucent, lustrous, effulgent, refulgent, radiant

   Antonyms: dim, dull

2. filled with light:

   The room was bright with sunshine.

3. vivid or brilliant:

   a bright red dress;

   bright passages of prose.

4. quick-witted or intelligent:

   They gave promotions to bright employees.

   Synonyms: clever, sharp-witted, sharp, discerning, keen, ingenious

5. clever or witty, as a remark:

   Bright comments enlivened the conversation.

6. animated; lively; cheerful:

   a bright and happy child;

   a bird's bright song.

7. characterized by happiness or gladness:

   All the world seems bright and gay.

8. favorable or auspicious:

   bright prospects for the future.

   Synonyms: promising

9. radiant or splendid:

   the bright pageantry of court.

10. illustrious or glorious, as an era:

    the bright days of the Renaissance.

11. clear or translucent, as liquid:

    The bright water trickled through his fingers.

12. having a glossy, glazed, or polished finish.
13. intensely clear and vibrant in tone or quality; clear and sharp in sound:

    a bright singing voice.

noun

1. brights,
   1. the automobile or truck headlights used for driving at night or under conditions of decreased visibility.
   2. the brighter level of intensity of these lights, usually deflected upward by switching on a bulb in the headlamp that strikes the lens at a different angle.
2. flue-cured, light-hued tobacco.
3. an artist's paintbrush having short, square-edged bristles.
4. Archaic. brightness; splendor.

adverb

, bright·er, bright·est.

1. in a bright manner; brightly.

Bright

²

[ brahyt ]

noun

1. John, 1811–89, British statesman and economist.
2. Richard, 1789–1858, English physician.

bright

¹

/ braɪt /

adjective

1. emitting or reflecting much light; shining
2. (of colours) intense or vivid
3. full of promise

   a bright future

4. full of animation; cheerful

   a bright face

5. informal.
   quick witted or clever

   a bright child

6. magnificent; glorious

   a bright victory

7. polished; glistening

   a bright finish

8. (of the voice) distinct and clear
9. (of a liquid) translucent and clear

   a circle of bright water

10. bright and early
    very early in the morning

noun

1. a thin flat paintbrush with a straight sharp edge used for highlighting in oil painting
2. poetic.
   brightness or splendour

   the bright of his armour

adverb

1. brightly

   the fire was burning bright

Bright

²

/ braɪt /

noun

1. BrightJohn18111889MBritishPOLITICS: statesmanSOCIAL SCIENCE: economist John . 1811–89, British liberal statesman, economist, and advocate of free trade: with Richard Cobden he led the Anti-Corn-Law League (1838–46)

Derived Forms

• ˈbrightly, adverb

Other Words From

• brightish adjective
• brightly adverb
• over·bright adjective
• over·brightly adverb
• over·brightness noun
• super·bright adjective
• un·bright adjective
• un·brightly adverb
• un·brightness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of bright¹

First recorded before 1000; Middle English; Old English breht, beorht; cognate with Gothic bairht(s), Old Saxon ber(a)ht, Old High German beraht, Old Norse bjartr; Welsh berth “splendid”; akin to Latin flagrāre “to blaze” ( flagrant ( def ) ), Albanian bardhë “white,” Sanskrit bhrājate “it shines”

Word History and Origins

Origin of bright¹

Old English beorht ; related to Old Norse bjartr , Gothic bairhts clear, Old High German beraht , Norwegian bjerk , Swedish brokig pied

Idioms and Phrases

• look on the bright side

Synonym Study

Bright, brilliant, radiant, shining refer to that which gives forth, is filled with, or reflects light. Bright suggests the general idea: bright flare, stars, mirror. Brilliant implies a strong, unusual, or sparkling brightness, often changeful or varied and too strong to be agreeable: brilliant sunlight. Radiant implies the pouring forth of steady rays of light, especially as are agreeable to the eyes: a radiant face. Shining implies giving forth or reflecting a strong or steady light: shining eyes.

Example Sentences

His peers remember him as a bright man who spoke softly and occasionally came across as a bit shy.

From The Daily Beast

Despite the obvious ongoing problems with disease and access to basics, the future of Africa is bright.

From The Daily Beast

How could the holidays be merry and bright without Holiday Lights?

From The Daily Beast

If Kendrick Lamar is the future of rap, then the future is bright.

From The Daily Beast

In his black suits, Hitchcock always looked odd in the bright California sun.

From The Daily Beast

His nose was hooked and rather large, his eyes were blue, bright as steel, and set a trifle wide.

From Project Gutenberg

While Benjy sat contemplating this creature, and wondering what was to be the end of it all, a bright idea occurred to him.

From Project Gutenberg

"She used to be so well—so bright," said Angela, who also appeared to have the desire to say something kind and comfortable.

From Project Gutenberg

As the bright glow of a little cascade of sparks pierced the darkness, a voice in our rear called sharply: "Hands up!"

From Project Gutenberg

She turned her bright eyes, with their dilated pupils, slowly away from his, and looked down over the river.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• blazing
• brilliant
• dazzling
• flashing
• glistening
• glittering
• golden
• intense
• luminous
• radiant
• shimmering
• shiny
• silvery
• sparkling
• sunny
• vivid