brightness

brightness — noun

1. the level of light in something, or the strength with which it shines.

1.nounB2
Definition

the level of light in something, or the strength with which it shines.

Example

The phone lets users lower the brightness before bed.

lower the brightness

At sunrise, the lake's brightness hurt Ravi's eyes.

Common collocations
  • adjust the brightness
  • screen brightness
  • brightness of the sun
  • reduce the brightness
Synonyms
  • light

    broader and often names the thing itself, not its measured level

  • brilliance

    stronger and sometimes more literary or intense

  • glow

    suggests a softer or warmer kind of light

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

the brightness of something

adjust the brightness

brightness stays low/high

Usage Note

Common with screen, lamp, snow, sun, and room, often after verbs like adjust, lower, or increase. Distinguish from sense 2, which is about vivid colour rather than the amount of light.

Common Mistakes

Please close the brightness of the screen.
Please lower the brightness of the screen.
brightness is usually adjusted up or down, not 'closed'.

2. the strength and clearness of a colour when it looks vivid and easy to notice.

2.nounB2
Definition

the strength and clearness of a colour when it looks vivid and easy to notice.

Example

The poster's brightness made the red letters jump out.

brightness of a color

Under the shop lights, the silk kept its brightness.

Common collocations
  • color brightness
  • keep its brightness
  • lose brightness
  • add brightness to a color
Synonyms
  • vividness

    emphasizes how striking and lively a color looks

  • richness

    often suggests depth and fullness of color

  • intensity

    slightly more technical and often used for measured strength

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

the brightness of a color

keep its brightness

lose some brightness

Usage Note

Usually used for colours, flowers, paint, clothes, and pictures. Distinguish from sense 1, which is about light level rather than strong colour.

3. a happy, hopeful look or manner that makes someone seem lively.

3.nounC1
Definition

a happy, hopeful look or manner that makes someone seem lively.

Example

The child's brightness returned when her mother waved from the bus.

brightness returns with good news

There was brightness in Omar's voice after the call.

brightness in someone's voice

Common collocations
  • brightness in her eyes
  • brightness in his voice
  • brightness of a smile
  • speak with brightness
Synonyms
  • cheerfulness

    more general and does not focus on how it shows in the face or voice

  • warmth

    stresses kindness and friendliness more than hopefulness

  • optimism

    focuses on hopeful thinking rather than appearance

Antonyms
  • gloom

    a dark or unhappy feeling shown outwardly

  • sadness

    lack of a cheerful expression or tone

Grammar Patterns

brightness in someone's face

brightness in someone's voice

speak with brightness

Usage Note

Often appears with face, eyes, smile, and voice, especially in descriptive writing. Distinguish from sense 4, which is about mental ability rather than an outwardly hopeful effect.

4. the ability to understand things fast and learn new ones easily.

4.nounC1
Definition

the ability to understand things fast and learn new ones easily.

Example

Teachers noticed Hana's brightness in maths during first grade.

brightness in a student

The test showed more brightness than his quiet manner suggested.

Common collocations
  • a child's brightness
  • show brightness
  • natural brightness
  • brightness in a student
Synonyms
  • intelligence

    broader and more neutral for mental ability in general

  • cleverness

    often highlights skill in finding answers or solutions

  • sharpness

    suggests quick understanding and alert thinking

Antonyms
  • dullness

    lack of mental quickness

  • slowness

    difficulty in understanding or learning quickly

Grammar Patterns

someone's brightness

show brightness

brightness in a student

Usage Note

Common with child, student, and mind, and often after verbs like show, notice, or measure. Distinguish from sense 3, which describes a cheerful look or manner, not quick learning.

Common Mistakes

The teacher praised her bright.
The teacher praised her brightness.
after a possessive word, English needs the noun form here.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Brightness is the best general word when you mean the level or strength of light. Light is broader: it can mean the thing itself, not just how strong it is. Brilliance is stronger and often sounds more intense or more literary, especially for sunlight, jewels, or impressive shining surfaces. Glow suggests a softer, steadier, often warmer kind of light. Glare is different because it usually means light that is too strong and unpleasant to look at. You might lower the brightness on a screen, admire the brilliance of fresh snow in sunlight, notice the glow of a lamp by the bed, or complain about the glare from a car behind you.

light ↗brilliance ↗glow ↗glare

Common collocations

Phrases

  • the brightness of ...
  • brightness in ...

Prepositions

Etymology

Old EnglishEnglish

Brightness was formed in English from bright and the noun ending -ness. Bright goes back to Old English beorht, meaning shining or full of light, and the noun later widened in meaning to cover vivid colour, cheerful expression, and quick intelligence as well.