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Brighten vs Gladden - What's the difference?

brighten | gladden |

In transitive terms the difference between brighten and gladden

is that brighten is to make illustrious, or more distinguished; to add luster or splendor to while gladden is to cause (something) to become more glad.

brighten

English

Verb

(en verb)
  • (lb) To make bright or brighter in color.
  • :
  • (lb) To make illustrious, or more distinguished; to add luster or splendor to
  • *(Jonathan Swift) (1667–1745)
  • *:The present queen would brighten her character, if she would exert her authority to instill virtues into her people.
  • To make more cheerful and pleasant; to enliven
  • :
  • *(Ambrose Philips) (1674-1749)
  • *:An ecstasy, which mothers only feel, / Plays round my heart and brightens all my sorrow.
  • (lb) To grow bright, or more bright in color; to clear up
  • :
  • (lb) To become brighter or more cheerful in mood
  • :
  • *
  • *:Then his sallow face brightened , for the hall had been carefully furnished, and was very clean. ¶ There was a neat hat-and-umbrella stand, and the stranger's weary feet fell soft on a good, serviceable dark-red drugget, which matched in colour the flock-paper on the walls.
  • To make acute or witty; to enliven.
  • :(Johnson)

    • Derived terms

    * brightener * brighten up

    Anagrams

    * * English ergative verbs

    gladden

    English

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To cause (something) to become more glad.
  • *1798 , William Wordsworth, The Nightingale :
  • *:A balmy night! and tho' the stars be dim, / Yet let us think upon the vernal showers / That gladden the green earth, and we shall find / A pleasure in the dimness of the stars.
  • *1838 , Charles Dickens, Oliver Twist :
  • *:Her body was bent by age; her limbs trembled with palsy; her face, distorted into a mumbling leer, resembled more the grotesque shaping of some wild pencil, than the work of Nature's hand. Alas! How few of Nature's faces are left alone to gladden us with their beauty!
  • (archaic) To become more glad in one's disposition.
  • *
  • *:In May when every lusty heart flourisheth and bourgeoneth, for as the season is lusty to behold and comfortable, so man and woman rejoice and gladden of summer coming with his fresh flowers: for winter with his rough winds and blasts causeth a lusty man and woman to cower and sit fast by the fire.

    • Synonyms

    * cheer, cheer up, gratify, please

    Anagrams

    *