different between brighten vs brightening

English

Etymology

From bright +? -en.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?b?a?t?n/
• (US) IPA^(key): [?b?a???n?]
• Rhymes: -a?t?n
• Homophone: Brighton

Verb

brighten (third-person singular simple present brightens, present participle brightening, simple past and past participle brightened)

1. (transitive) To make bright or brighter in color.

2. (transitive) To make illustrious, or more distinguished; to add luster or splendor to
3. (transitive, figuratively) To make more cheerful and pleasant; to enliven
   • 1712, Ambrose Philips, The Distrest Mother

     An Ecstasie, which Mothers only feel, / Plays round my heart and brightens up my sorrow.

4. (intransitive) To grow bright, or more bright in color; to clear up

5. (intransitive) To become brighter or more cheerful in mood

   • Then his sallow face brightened, for the hall had been carefully furnished, and was very clean. ¶ There was a neat hat-and-umbrella stand, and the stranger's weary feet fell soft on a good, serviceable dark-red drugget, which matched in colour the flock-paper on the walls.

6. To make acute or witty; to enliven.

   (Can we find and add a quotation of Johnson to this entry?)

Derived terms

• brightener
• brighten up

Translations

Anagrams

• berthing, bringeth

English

Verb

brightening

1. present participle of brighten

Noun

brightening (plural brightenings)

1. An instance of becoming brighter.