bright Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. adjective emitting or reflecting light readily or in large amounts
    • the sun was bright and hot
    • a bright sunlit room
  2. adjective satellite having striking color
    brilliant; vivid.
    • bright dress
    • brilliant tapestries
    • a bird with vivid plumage
  3. adjective satellite characterized by quickness and ease in learning
    smart.
    • some children are brighter in one subject than another
    • smart children talk earlier than the average
  4. adjective satellite having lots of light either natural or artificial
    • the room was bright and airy
    • a stage bright with spotlights
  5. adjective satellite made smooth and bright by or as if by rubbing; reflecting a sheen or glow
    burnished; shiny; lustrous; shining.
    • bright silver candlesticks
    • a burnished brass knocker
    • she brushed her hair until it fell in lustrous auburn waves
    • rows of shining glasses
    • shiny black patents
  6. adjective satellite splendid
    • the bright stars of stage and screen
    • a bright moment in history
    • the bright pageantry of court
  7. adjective not made dim or less bright
    undimmed.
    • undimmed headlights
    • surprisingly the curtain started to rise while the houselights were still undimmed
  8. adjective satellite clear and sharp and ringing
    brilliant.
    • the bright sound of the trumpet section
    • the brilliant sound of the trumpets
  9. adjective satellite characterized by happiness or gladness
    • bright faces
    • all the world seems bright and gay
  10. adjective satellite full or promise
    hopeful; promising.
    • had a bright future in publishing
    • the scandal threatened an abrupt end to a promising political career
    • a hopeful new singer on Broadway
  11. adverb with brightness
    brightly; brilliantly.
    • the stars shone brilliantly
    • the windows glowed jewel bright

WordNet

Bright intransitive verb
Definitions
  1. See Brite, v. i.
Bright adjective
Etymology
OE. briht, AS. beorht, briht; akin to OS. berht, OHG. beraht, Icel. bjartr, Goth. baírhts.
Definitions
  1. Radiating or reflecting light; shedding or having much light; shining; luminous; not dark.
    The sun was bright o'erhead. Longfellow.
    The earth was dark, but the heavens were bright. Drake.
    The public places were as bright as at noonday. Macaulay.
  2. Transmitting light; clear; transparent.
    From the brightest wines He 'd turn abhorrent. Thomson.
  3. Having qualities that render conspicuous or attractive, or that affect the mind as light does the eye; resplendent with charms; as, bright beauty.
    Bright as an angel new-dropped from the sky. Parnell.
  4. Having a clear, quick intellect; intelligent.
  5. Sparkling with wit; lively; vivacious; shedding cheerfulness and joy around; cheerful; cheery.
    Be bright and jovial among your guests. Shak.
  6. Illustrious; glorious.
    In the brightest annals of a female reign. Cotton.
  7. Manifest to the mind, as light is to the eyes; clear; evident; plain.
    That he may with more ease, with brighter evidence, and with surer success, draw the bearner on. I. Watts.
  8. Of brilliant color; of lively hue or appearance.
    Here the bright crocus and blue violet grew. Pope.
    ✍ Bright is used in composition in the sense of brilliant, clear, sunny, etc.; as, bright-eyed, bright-haired, bright-hued. Syn. -- Shining; splending; luminous; lustrous; brilliant; resplendent; effulgent; refulgent; radiant; sparkling; glittering; lucid; beamy; clear; transparent; illustrious; witty; clear; vivacious; sunny.
Bright noun
Definitions
  1. Splendor; brightness. Poetic
    Dark with excessive bright thy skirts appear. Milton.
Bright adverb
Definitions
  1. Brightly. Chaucer.
    I say it is the moon that shines so bright. Shak.

Webster 1913