bright
1 of 2adjective
ˈbrīt 
1
a
: radiating or reflecting light : shining, sparkling
bright lights
bright eyes
b
: sunny
a bright day
also : radiant with happiness
bright smiling faces
bright moments
2
: illustrious, glorious
brightest star of the opera
3
: beautiful
4
: of high saturation or lightness
bright colors
5
a
: lively, cheerful
be bright and jovial among your guests
William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare b
: intelligent, clever
a bright idea
bright children
6
: auspicious, promising
bright prospects for the future
bright adverb
brightly adverb
bright
2 of 2noun
plural brights
1
: a color of high saturation : a bright (see bright entry 1 sense 4) color —usually used in plural
rich earth tones and crisp brights Patricia Peterson
Patricia Peterson2
brights plural : clothing that is brightly colored
Follow these steps and you can wash your dark clothes with the same laundry detergent you use for your whites and brights. Mary Hunt
Mary Hunt3
brights plural : high beams
It didn't help that the car behind her, which had its brights on, seemed intent on tailgating her all the way to Fells Point. Laura Lippman
Laura Lippman
Synonyms
Adjective
- beaming
- bedazzling
- brilliant
- candescent
- clear
- dazzling
- effulgent
- fulgent
- glowing
- incandescent
- lambent
- lucent
- lucid
- luminous
- lustrous
- radiant
- refulgent
- sheeny
- shining
- shiny
- splendid
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Adjective The lighting was too bright. a bright room with lots of windows It was a bright, sunny day. The room was decorated in bright colors.
Recent Examples on the Web Petra Guglielmetti, Glamour, 13 Sep. 2022 The result: butter-creaminess, bright flavors and a clean finish. Robin Soslow, Chron, 12 Sep. 2022 Strip an inch from bottom of stems and hang upside down in clusters away from bright light, which may fade color. Rita Nader Heikenfeld, The Enquirer, 9 Sep. 2022 The bright flavors on display here are a delicious nod to the irresistible fusion of Vietnamese and Cajun cooking found throughout southern Louisiana. The Bon Appétit Staff & Contributors, Bon Appétit, 8 Sep. 2022 For Marla White, 58, bright light can trigger significant migraine pain. Beth Krietsch, SELF, 7 Sep. 2022 Thomas plays with the fact that retroreflective surfaces appear most clearly in bright light. Stephen Wallis, WSJ, 7 Sep. 2022 Once they're cooked, the vegetarian summer recipe is hit with bright flavors of the season in the sauce featuring fresh parsley, oregano, garlic, and shallot. Katlyn Moncada, Better Homes & Gardens, 22 Aug. 2022 Chaat is a general term used for Indian small bites and snacks, usually doused with multiple sauces and textures yielding a burst of sweet, tangy, cool, and spicy heat along with crunchy bits and bright fresh flavors. Mallory Arnold, Outside Online, 1 Aug. 2022 People Staff, Peoplemag, 30 Aug. 2022 Purple shampoo is color theory at its simplest: The temporary hue makes all types of light and blonde hair look fresh-from-the-salon bright. Harper's Bazaar Staff, Harper's BAZAAR, 30 Aug. 2022 Now, the large windows in Shockley’s new bright and airy classroom look out at an expanse of dirt — where their old school used to be. Olivia Krauth, The Courier-Journal, 10 Aug. 2022 With a stone this bright and a rose gold band, who needs diamonds? Frances Solá-santiago, refinery29.com, 10 Aug. 2022 Following it after having left the Mingei International Museum’s future bright. David L. Coddon, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 May 2022 Additionally, the small spaces in complex brush piles can be shelter for many young fish and baitfish to keep the fishery's future bright. Arkansas Online, 21 June 2021 This fall, Garden & Gun shined a bright on Smoke-A-Holics in a feature on Derrick, his technique and his passion. Dallas News, 30 Nov. 2020 Executive chef Brian Archibald leads the culinary team of the 5,000-square-foot bright, airy restaurant by Fig & Olive restaurateur Laurent Halasz. Shaena Montanari, The Arizona Republic, 24 Sep. 2020 See More
Adjective
Suddenly, every sound, smell, or flicker of bright light is painful. Petra Guglielmetti, Glamour, 13 Sep. 2022 The result: butter-creaminess, bright flavors and a clean finish. Robin Soslow, Chron, 12 Sep. 2022 Strip an inch from bottom of stems and hang upside down in clusters away from bright light, which may fade color. Rita Nader Heikenfeld, The Enquirer, 9 Sep. 2022 The bright flavors on display here are a delicious nod to the irresistible fusion of Vietnamese and Cajun cooking found throughout southern Louisiana. The Bon Appétit Staff & Contributors, Bon Appétit, 8 Sep. 2022 For Marla White, 58, bright light can trigger significant migraine pain. Beth Krietsch, SELF, 7 Sep. 2022 Thomas plays with the fact that retroreflective surfaces appear most clearly in bright light. Stephen Wallis, WSJ, 7 Sep. 2022 Once they're cooked, the vegetarian summer recipe is hit with bright flavors of the season in the sauce featuring fresh parsley, oregano, garlic, and shallot. Katlyn Moncada, Better Homes & Gardens, 22 Aug. 2022 Chaat is a general term used for Indian small bites and snacks, usually doused with multiple sauces and textures yielding a burst of sweet, tangy, cool, and spicy heat along with crunchy bits and bright fresh flavors. Mallory Arnold, Outside Online, 1 Aug. 2022 Noun
Kevin Hart, Regina Hall and Mark Wahlberg bring the bright at the Me Time premiere in Los Angeles on Aug. 23. People Staff, Peoplemag, 30 Aug. 2022 Purple shampoo is color theory at its simplest: The temporary hue makes all types of light and blonde hair look fresh-from-the-salon bright. Harper's Bazaar Staff, Harper's BAZAAR, 30 Aug. 2022 Now, the large windows in Shockley’s new bright and airy classroom look out at an expanse of dirt — where their old school used to be. Olivia Krauth, The Courier-Journal, 10 Aug. 2022 With a stone this bright and a rose gold band, who needs diamonds? Frances Solá-santiago, refinery29.com, 10 Aug. 2022 Following it after having left the Mingei International Museum’s future bright. David L. Coddon, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 May 2022 Additionally, the small spaces in complex brush piles can be shelter for many young fish and baitfish to keep the fishery's future bright. Arkansas Online, 21 June 2021 This fall, Garden & Gun shined a bright on Smoke-A-Holics in a feature on Derrick, his technique and his passion. Dallas News, 30 Nov. 2020 Executive chef Brian Archibald leads the culinary team of the 5,000-square-foot bright, airy restaurant by Fig & Olive restaurateur Laurent Halasz. Shaena Montanari, The Arizona Republic, 24 Sep. 2020 See More Word History
Etymology
Adjective
Middle English, from Old English beorht; akin to Old High German beraht bright, Sanskrit bhrājate it shines
Noun
noun derivative of bright entry 1
First Known Use
Adjective
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Noun
1920, in the meaning defined at sense 3
Phrases Containing bright
Kids Definition
bright
adjective
ˈbrīt
1
: giving off or filled with much light
a bright fire
a bright room
2
: very clear or vivid in color
a bright red
3
: intelligent sense 1, clever
a bright child
4
: cheerful sense 1
a bright smile
5
: likely to be good
a bright future
Biographical Definition
Bright
biographical name
ˈbrīt
John 1811–1889 English orator and statesman
bright 1 of 2
adjective
1
as in shining
giving off or reflecting much light in the desert the sun was so bright that it hurt my eyes the moon is bright tonight Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- shining
- luminous
- dazzling
- glowing
- shiny
- radiant
- brilliant
- gleaming
- sparkling
- shimmering
- blazing
- glittering
- flashing
- lustrous
- effulgent
- refulgent
- flickering
- splendid
- glistening
- clear
- sheeny
- shined
- beaming
- lucent
- blinding
- fulgent
- lucid
- incandescent
- polished
- lambent
- candescent
- burning
- sunny
- fiery
- flaming
- bedazzling
- glimmering
- twinkling
- glinting
- shimmery
- glaring
- glistering
- ardent
- scintillating
- scintillant
- aglitter
- agleam
- burnished
- flaring
- ablaze
- winking
- glancing
- coruscant
- superbright
- ultrabright
- combusting
- gemmy
- red-hot
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- dim
- dark
- dull
- gloomy
- darkened
- lackluster
- dusky
- somber
- sombre
- obscure
- blackened
- murky
- darkish
- dimmed
- lightless
- unlit
- cloudy
- obscured
- darkling
- shadowy
- unbright
- darksome
- gray
- pale
- grey
- tenebrous
- shady
- unbrilliant
- pitch-dark
- pitch-black
- leaden
- palish
- sunless
- shadowlike
2
as in illuminated
filled with much light the display windows of department stores are especially bright at Christmastime Synonyms & Similar Words
- illuminated
- illumined
- light
- lit
- lighted
- brightened
- shiny
- lightsome
- alight
- ablaze
- sunny
- sunshiny
- highlighted
- sunlit
- spotlit
- floodlit
- spotlighted
- ignited
- kindled
- moonlit
- floodlighted
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- dark
- darkened
- dusky
- blackened
- gloomy
- dusk
- darkish
- dimmed
- lightless
- sombre
- somber
- unlit
- darkling
- cloudy
- tenebrous
- gray
- pale
- shadowy
- grey
- murky
- obscured
- pitch-dark
- pitch-black
- leaden
- sunless
- shadowlike
- lightproof
3
as in cheerful
having or showing a good mood or disposition always walks into work with a bright smile on his face Synonyms & Similar Words
- cheerful
- optimistic
- cheery
- sunny
- upbeat
- lively
- smiling
- buoyant
- chipper
- merry
- gladsome
- joyful
- winsome
- lightsome
- blithe
- grinning
- blithesome
- delighted
- rosy
- careless
- happy
- perky
- canty
- jolly
- hopeful
- vivacious
- pleased
- chirpy
- satisfied
- animated
- laughing
- sprightly
- carefree
- gay
- joyous
- lighthearted
- eupeptic
- sanguine
- jovial
- jaunty
- blissful
- easygoing
- gleeful
- jocund
- mirthful
- lilting
- cavalier
- unconcerned
- insouciant
- boon
- tickled
- beaming
- glad
- sprightful
- happy-go-lucky
- gratified
- devil-may-care
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- gloomy
- sullen
- glum
- morose
- dour
- sulky
- sad
- saturnine
- unhappy
- dull
- joyless
- blue
- unsatisfied
- sluggish
- listless
- lethargic
- low
- torpid
- sorrowful
- depressed
- downcast
- forlorn
- melancholy
- dejected
- droopy
- disconsolate
- crestfallen
- down
- despondent
- mirthless
- hangdog
- downhearted
- disheartened
- brokenhearted
- inconsolable
- heavyhearted
- low-spirited
4
as in intelligent
having or showing quickness of mind a company that is always looking for bright, ambitious college graduates Synonyms & Similar Words
- intelligent
- smart
- clever
- brilliant
- fast
- sharp
- quick
- exceptional
- keen
- brainy
- nimble
- wise
- educated
- alert
- skilled
- wise
- quick-witted
- sharp-witted
- supersmart
- ultrasmart
- resourceful
- creative
- sensible
- apt
- insightful
- hyperintelligent
- cunning
- perceptive
- acute
- literate
- astute
- sound
- perspicacious
- schooled
- ingenious
- savvy
- sagacious
- learned
- erudite
- knowledgeable
- cerebral
- informed
- heady
- reasonable
- discerning
- inventive
- genial
- sane
- scholarly
- prudent
- logical
- knowing
- sage
- highbrow
- judicious
- trained
- shrewd
- rational
- foxy
- crafty
- wily
- percipient
- well-read
- sapient
- sapient
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- dim
- soft
- dull
- simple
- dense
- opaque
- thick
- stupid
- dumb
- slow
- vacuous
- dopey
- obtuse
- fatuous
- unintelligent
- dorky
- witless
- pinheaded
- doltish
- brainless
- mindless
- unbrilliant
- thickheaded
- bubbleheaded
- boneheaded
- softheaded
- dunderheaded
- foolish
- silly
- lamebrain
- gormless
- lamebrained
- senseless
- unsmart
- dopy
- knuckleheaded
- simpleminded
- chuckleheaded
- idiotic
- feebleminded
- airheaded
- ignorant
- moronic
- idiotical
- lunkheaded
- dim-witted
- thick-witted
- imbecilic
- imbecile
- empty-headed
- uneducated
- slow-witted
- brain-dead
- zany
- uninformed
- crazy
- illiterate
- half-witted
- birdbrained
- nutty
- wacky
- mad
- unacademic
- balmy
- unintellectual
- whacky
- weak-minded
- untaught
- absurd
- unthinking
- kooky
- insane
- nonintellectual
- lowbrow
- unwise
- dippy
- sappy
- dotty
- daffy
- loony
- daft
- boobish
- preposterous
- lunatic
- nonsensical
- fool
- cuckoo
- asinine
- cockeyed
- half-baked
- screwball
- looney
- harebrained
- crackpot
- featherheaded
- kookie
- tomfool
- half-baked
5
as in promising
having qualities which inspire hope predicted a bright future for the young math whiz Synonyms & Similar Words
- promising
- optimistic
- rosy
- golden
- upbeat
- hopeful
- encouraging
- auspicious
- roseate
- propitious
- positive
- fair
- likely
- favorable
- reassuring
- heartening
- rose-colored
- good
- confident
- comforting
- soothing
- cheering
- decisive
- sure
- doubtless
- assured
- bullish
- unhesitating
- beamish
- eupeptic
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- dark
- gloomy
- bleak
- desperate
- dismal
- dreary
- pessimistic
- unlikely
- hopeless
- depressing
- unpromising
- discouraging
- inauspicious
- cheerless
- uncertain
- negative
- disheartening
- doubtful
- grim
- downbeat
- unpropitious
- dubious
- gray
- grey
- unfavorable
- unencouraging
- comfortless
- miserable
- glum
- bearish
- wretched
- funereal
6
as in favorable
pointing toward a happy outcome all the signs are bright right now for an economic boom Synonyms & Similar Words
- promising
- favorable
- encouraging
- hopeful
- happy
- golden
- lucky
- auspicious
- propitious
- beneficial
- fortunate
- profitable
- prosperous
- heartening
- advantageous
- fortuitous
- providential
- salutary
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- dim
- unfavorable
- hopeless
- unpromising
- discouraging
- inauspicious
- unpropitious
- unhappy
- unfortunate
- disheartening
- dark
- unlucky
- gloomy
- disastrous
- ominous
- futureless
- catastrophic
- fatal
- ruinous
- sinister
- calamitous
- menacing
- portentous
- ill
- baleful
- dire
- threatening
- foreboding
- minatory
- direful
- doomy
- ill-boding
7
as in cheering
serving to lift one's spirits a bright and beautiful morning to begin planting our garden Synonyms & Similar Words
- cheerful
- cheering
- cheery
- sparkling
- glad
- radiant
- gleaming
- gay
- heartwarming
- gladdening
- heartening
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- dark
- gray
- grey
- gloomy
- bleak
- dismal
- dreary
- depressing
- dull
- cheerless
- discouraging
- drab
- black
- colorless
- desolate
- lusterless
- disheartening
- lackluster
- dispiriting
8
as in outstanding
standing above others in rank, importance, or achievement a bright new star on the operatic scene Synonyms & Similar Words
- outstanding
- distinguished
- prestigious
- illustrious
- luminous
- famous
- notable
- noteworthy
- eminent
- signal
- star
- glorious
- honored
- superior
- celebrated
- noble
- renowned
- preeminent
- infamous
- astral
- exalted
- redoubtable
- famed
- reputable
- dominant
- notorious
- predominant
- paramount
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- insignificant
- minor
- unimportant
- mediocre
- average
- obscure
- inferior
- unsung
- uncelebrated
9
as in glowing
having or being an outward sign of good feelings (as of love, confidence, or happiness) a room full of summer interns with bright, eager faces Synonyms & Similar Words
- cheerful
- glowing
- radiant
- sunny
- smiling
- dazzling
- gleaming
- joyful
- aglow
- merry
- shining
- beaming
- brilliant
- laughing
- cheery
- luminous
- optimistic
- delighted
- satisfied
- happy
- starry
- upbeat
- effulgent
- pleased
- rosy
- refulgent
- jovial
- blissful
- joyous
- chipper
- blooming
- mirthful
- blithe
- gladsome
- blithesome
- jocund
- thankful
- lightsome
- tickled
- gratified
- gay
- chuffed
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- dark
- flat
- blank
- black
- gray
- listless
- grey
- gloomy
- stoic
- stoical
- unemotional
- sullen
- dismal
- depressing
- glum
- melancholy
- darkening
- glaring
- frowning
- lowering
- louring
- glowering
- scowling
10
as in sunny
not stormy or cloudy we'll have a picnic on the next bright day Synonyms & Similar Words
- sunny
- clear
- sunshiny
- cloudless
- unclouded
- peaceful
- fair
- mild
- pleasant
- serene
- gentle
- moderate
- tranquil
- temperate
- calm
- placid
- clement
- balmy
- fine
- halcyon
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- bleak
- cloudy
- dirty
- rainy
- raw
- stormy
- overcast
- rough
- turbulent
- harsh
- nasty
- severe
- tempestuous
- foul
- breezy
- inclement
- hazy
- squally
- gusty
- foggy
- murky
- misty
- blustery
- sunless
- blustering
- soupy
bright
2 of 2adverb
as in brightly
in a manner marked by the shining or reflecting of much light the storm passed, and once again the sun shone bright Synonyms & Similar Words
- brightly
- dazzlingly
- luminously
- radiantly
- lustrously
- incandescently
- glowingly
- brilliantly
- splendidly
- blazingly
- blindingly
- fulgently
- burningly
- lambently
- glitteringly
- flamingly
- glaringly
- flaringly
- flickeringly
- pellucidly
- opalescently
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- dimly
- darkly
- dully
- obscurely
- somberly
- gloomily
- murkily
- duskily
- cloudily
- shadowily
- shadily
Synonym Chooser
Some common synonyms of bright are brilliant, luminous, lustrous, and radiant. While all these words mean "shining or glowing with light," bright implies emitting or reflecting a high degree of light.
While the synonyms brilliant and bright are close in meaning, brilliant implies intense often sparkling brightness.
While in some cases nearly identical to bright, luminous implies emission of steady, suffused, glowing light by reflection or in surrounding darkness.
The meanings of lustrous and bright largely overlap; however, lustrous stresses an even, rich light from a surface that reflects brightly without glittering.
Although the words radiant and bright have much in common, radiant stresses the emission or seeming emission of rays of light.