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brighten up — 2 meanings

One phrase, 2 meanings. Learn them one at a time, then test yourself.

phrasal verb2 meanings
brighten up
1become or make happier2make a place cheerful

Meaning 1 · most common

become or make happier

To start to look or feel happier, or to make someone feel happier.

How oftenCommon
LevelB1
Used inMostly spoken

Examples

She really brightened up when she saw her friends at the party.

A: Sarah seemed upset this morning.
B: I brought her some coffee to try and brighten up her day.

Common mistake

Not: She brightened up herself when she heard.

Say: She brightened up when she heard.

In this sense 'brighten up' is intransitive — no object. (Cheering someone else is 'brighten up their day'.)

More on “become or make happier”Another example · Goes with · Tip

Another example

Honestly, a quick chat with a friend always brightens me up when I've had a long day.

Goes with

  • brighten up (become happier)
Practice saying this
Next meaning: make a place cheerful

Meaning 2

make a place cheerful

  • brighten up place

To make a room or place look lighter, more colourful and more cheerful. Said of the weather, it means to get sunnier.

How oftenCommon
LevelB1
Used inSpeech & writing

Examples

A bunch of flowers can really brighten up a room.

A: Shall we still go for a walk?
B: Let's wait an hour — the forecast says it'll brighten up this afternoon.

Common mistake

Not: The weather is brighter up now.

Say: The weather is brightening up now.

'Brighten up' is a verb — use 'is brightening up' for weather that is clearing.

More on “make a place cheerful”Another example · Tell it apart · Goes with · Tip

Another example

Adding some colourful posters can brighten up a classroom and make it a more inviting place to learn.

Tell it apart

Some colour would brighten up the office.

  • make it more cheerful

More lamps would light up the office.

  • make it physically brighter

Goes with

  • brighten up + place/person
Practice saying this
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become or make happiermake a place cheerful