Meaning & use
bright red
Last updated
Meanings
adjectivebefore a noun
Of a vivid, strong red that stands out clearly, like a ripe tomato or a fire engine.
Grammar: Before a noun it is often hyphenated: a bright-red coat; after a verb it is two words: the coat is bright red.
Patterns
- bright red with something
- turn bright red
She wore a bright red scarf in the snow.
The berries turned bright red in late summer.
A bright red light flashed on the dashboard.
noununcountable
A strong, vivid shade of red used as a color.
Grammar: Used as a name of a color: The wall was painted bright red.
Patterns
- painted in bright red
The banner was done in bright red.
He chose bright red for the front door.
Bright red is easy to spot from far away.
Common combinations
- bright red lipstick
- She finished her outfit with bright red lipstick.
- turn bright red
- His face turned bright red when everyone laughed.
- bright red blood
- The nurse noted bright red blood on the bandage.
- a bright red car
- We spotted their bright red car in the parking lot.
- bright red flowers
- Bright red flowers lined the garden path.
Synonyms and how they differ
- scarlet
- Scarlet is a particular bright red leaning slightly toward orange, and it sounds more formal or literary.
- crimson
- Crimson is a deeper red with a hint of blue, so it is richer and darker than bright red.
- vivid red
- Vivid red stresses intensity of color, and bright red stresses lightness and clarity.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: bright red or deep red?
bright red vs deep red
Deep red is darker and richer, while bright red is light and vivid.
Practice
Which is correct when the color comes before the noun?
Choose one answer.
Two words that together describe a noun take a hyphen before it. The other options use wrong forms or punctuation.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “bright red”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.