bright 1 of 2

adjective

ˈbrīt How to pronounce bright (audio)
Definition of brightnext
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

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2
as in illuminated
filled with much light the display windows of department stores are especially bright at Christmastime

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3
as in cheerful
having or showing a good mood or disposition always walks into work with a bright smile on his face

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4
as in intelligent
having or showing quickness of mind a company that is always looking for bright, ambitious college graduates

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5
as in promising
having qualities which inspire hope predicted a bright future for the young math whiz

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6
as in favorable
pointing toward a happy outcome all the signs are bright right now for an economic boom

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7
as in cheering
serving to lift one's spirits a bright and beautiful morning to begin planting our garden

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8
as in outstanding
standing above others in rank, importance, or achievement a bright new star on the operatic scene

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9
as in radiant
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

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10
as in sunny
not stormy or cloudy we'll have a picnic on the next bright day

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bright

2 of 2

adverb

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

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bright colors
vivid colors
vibrant colors
brilliant colors
bold colors
loud colors
a bright day
a sunny day
a clear day
a brilliant day
a dazzling day
a sunshiny day
a bright future
a good future
a hopeful future
a brilliant future
a vibrant future
a sunny future
bright students
smart students
intelligent students
sharp students
brilliant students
brainy students

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective bright differ from other similar words?

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.

When is brilliant a more appropriate choice than bright?

While the synonyms brilliant and bright are close in meaning, brilliant implies intense often sparkling brightness.

In what contexts can luminous take the place of bright?

While in some cases nearly identical to bright, luminous implies emission of steady, suffused, glowing light by reflection or in surrounding darkness.

When would lustrous be a good substitute for bright?

The meanings of lustrous and bright largely overlap; however, lustrous stresses an even, rich light from a surface that reflects brightly without glittering.

When might radiant be a better fit than bright?

Although the words radiant and bright have much in common, radiant stresses the emission or seeming emission of rays of light.

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of bright
Adjective
In the image, the girl group smiled while on a beach at night, as a bright, full moon could be seen in the sky behind them. —Nicholas Rice, People.com, 14 Apr. 2025 The two brightest nighttime stars available in the Minnesota and Wisconsin sky are Sirius and Arcturus. —Mike Lynch, Twin Cities, 13 Apr. 2025 The colors seem more vivid, the lights are brighter, the energy levels are higher. —Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 12 Apr. 2025 Being leaders at heart who pave their own path, a Sagittarius may be intrigued by the allure of retro decor's bright colors and funky designs. —Isabella Milano, Better Homes & Gardens, 3 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for bright
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bright
  1. shining
  2. cheerful
  3. intelligent
  4. promising
  5. favorable
  6. outstanding
  7. radiant
  8. sunny
Adjective
  • Her next shining moment comes when two young sisters enter the hospital.
    — Stephanie Sengwe, People.com, 10 Apr. 2025
  • There were definitely moments that were less shining than others for me.
    — Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 5 Apr. 2025
Definition of shining
Adjective
  • After congratulating the pregnant women, the husband and wife turn their attention to a cheerful Aisha.
    — Angel Saunders, People.com, 14 Apr. 2025
  • The relaxed fit keeps it comfortable for all-day wear, and the sunny shade adds a cheerful touch to otherwise neutral travel basics.
    — Becca Blond, Travel + Leisure, 1 Apr. 2025
Definition of cheerful
Adjective
  • Untangling a relationship with SpaceX Some of the most intelligent questions came from US Sen. Andy Kim, D-New Jersey.
    — Eric Berger, ArsTechnica, 9 Apr. 2025
  • The antineutrino signature can even persist for millions of years; detecting a sustained versus a transient antineutrino source will still not be a smoking gun for intelligent aliens.
    — Big Think, Big Think, 10 Apr. 2025
Definition of intelligent
Adjective
  • Gabriel’s older brother David, 22, is a very promising right-handed pitcher in the Texas Rangers’ system.
    — Chuck Murr, Forbes.com, 11 Apr. 2025
  • Thus, despite the U.S. trade situation looking more promising for much of the world, experts say that U.S.-China negotiations remain the most important variable for Apple.
    — Dylan Butts, CNBC, 11 Apr. 2025
Definition of promising
Adjective
  • Two women in the crowd sporting red Trump caps appeared to be outnumbered by audience members who took a more favorable stance toward Casten and the Democrats.
    — Jeremy Gorner, Chicago Tribune, 14 Apr. 2025
  • New York would be favored in each series, but Detroit may offer a more favorable matchup for the Knicks.
    — David Faris, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Apr. 2025
Definition of favorable
Adjective
  • The thicker frame is reminiscent of an earlier era filled with outstanding fashion.
    — Christopher Murray, FOXNews.com, 17 Apr. 2025
  • Tran, in particular, gives an outstanding performance as Angela, alternately withdrawn and explosively emotional.
    — James Factora, Them., 16 Apr. 2025
Definition of outstanding
Adjective
  • One of the trademarks of healthy skin is a radiant complexion—and the best sunscreens for glowing skin are game-changers for achieving luminosity while protecting your skin from dangerous UV rays.
    — Annie Blackman, Allure, 9 Apr. 2025
  • Pair it with delicate drop earrings and radiant skin.
    — Sarah Zendejas, Vogue, 6 Apr. 2025
Definition of radiant
Adjective
  • The weather forecast for April 18 calls for highs in the 90s in Texas, a sunny day in New York ... and snow in Hawaii?
    — Doyle Rice, USA Today, 18 Apr. 2025
  • But this sunny outlook was marred by the proverbial bolt out of the blue — U.S. President Donald Trump’s April 2 announcement of sweeping tariffs that would see a 31 percent levy slapped on Swiss goods entering the U.S. Too Soon to Talk That quickly became the elephant in the room at the fair.
    — Lily Templeton, Footwear News, 17 Apr. 2025
Definition of sunny

Browse Nearby Words

brigantines
bright
brighten
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Cite this Entry

“Bright.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bright. Accessed 22 Apr. 2025.

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