brighten up — become brighter or happier
phrasal verbB1IELTS 5+neutralcommon
to start looking or feeling happier, or to become lighter and sunnier (about the weather).
Say it like a native
Textbook Her facial expression became noticeably more cheerful.
Native She really brightened up.
'Brighten up' is the natural verb for a mood lifting (or weather clearing); the formal version is stilted.
Pattern: subject + brighten up
In use
- She really brightened up when she saw her friends at the party.daily life
- The weather started to brighten up in the afternoon, which made everyone feel more energetic.IELTS speaking
Common mistake
✗ She brightened up herself when she heard.
✓ She brightened up when she heard.
In this sense 'brighten up' is intransitive — no object. (Cheering someone else is 'brighten up their day'.)
Common collocations
brighten up (become happier)— the weather, her face, later, no end
Don't confuse it
Compare with 'cheer up', which is only about mood, not light.
Related
- brighten up (make brighter or happier) — Another meaning of 'brighten up' is 'make brighter or happier'; compare the examples to keep the meanings separate.