brightening up

Meanings

1. 1phrase

   The process of becoming lighter, sunnier, or more cheerful.

   Grammar: Used as a noun-like phrase or after 'be'; the full verb is 'brighten up'.

   Patterns

   • the brightening up of something
   • be brightening up

   The brightening up of the sky told us the storm was passing.

   I could see the brightening up of her face when she heard the news.

   There was a slow brightening up after the rain stopped.

2. 2verbtransitive or intransitive

   Making something lighter or more cheerful; the -ing form of 'brighten up'.

   Grammar: As a verb form it can take an object or stand alone: 'brightening up the room' or 'the day is brightening up'.

   Patterns

   • be brightening up
   • brightening up something
   • brightening up someone's mood

   She is brightening up the living room with new curtains.

   The weather is brightening up at last.

   He keeps brightening up whenever his friends visit.

Common combinations

brightening up the room

A coat of paint is brightening up the room.

the weather is brightening up

The weather is brightening up, so let's go for a walk.

brightening up someone's day

A kind word is good for brightening up someone's day.

brightening up outside

It is brightening up outside after the clouds passed.

Synonyms and how they differ

clearing

Used for weather becoming free of clouds, but not usually for moods or colors.

lightening

Focuses on becoming less dark; it does not suggest cheerfulness.

cheering up

Used mainly for people's moods, not for weather or rooms.

Opposites

Word family

brighten verb

To become or make brighter or happier.

bright adjective

Full of light or strong in color.

brightly adverb

In a way that is full of light or cheer.

brightness noun

The quality of being bright.

Commonly confused: brightening up or brightening?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “brightening up”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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