I’m not sure about you, but I always assumed the word brite was a real word. I had things like a Light Brite and watched shows like Rainbow Brite, so why wouldn’t I think it was real? But, until recently, it hadn’t been accepted as a dictionary entry and is still widely debated. But one thing’s for sure, it has a completely different meaning than its homophone bright, and I’ll explain everything for you here.
Bright vs. Brite
There was once a time when the word brite wasn’t considered by official dictionaries. But it is now, and it’s not a slang version of the adjective bright.
Brite Meaning
Brite refers to something being overripe, like when brewing with barley or hops. My husband and I sometimes brew our own beer and wine, and I’ve heard old-timers, like my grandfather who taught me a lot about brewing, use the term brite when they spoke of different stages of the process.
Bright Meaning
Bright is an adjective with two meanings. You can use it to refer to something visually glowing, like the sun on a warm afternoon or how a flashlight can make an area bright. But you can also use the word to describe someone who’s really smart. My son, for example, is on both the honor roll and the Cardinal roll in his school, putting him in the top 5% of his entire school. So, in short, he’s bright.
Is Brite a Word?
If you ask me, I say it most definitely is. Some people might argue and say it’s not. Still, it’s been recognized by most modern dictionaries. It’s a term you use to describe the state of something that’s become ripe or even over-ripe, like fruit or grain.
Is Brite a Scrabble Word?
Even though most of the world considers it an actual word and even recognized by some urban dictionaries, the word brite isn’t an official Scrabble word. Sorry, Scrabble players!
How Do You Spell Bright and Brite?
Bright is b-r-i-g-h-t, and brite is b-r-i-t-e. Both are pronounced exactly the same, making them homophones, and you say them as br-yte.
Using Brite in a Sentence
- These hops are very brite; it’s time to use them.
- That batch of grapes is brite, so they will be ready to make wine soon.
- Our wheat crop this year is too brite, so we have to get rid of it.
Using Bright in a Sentence
- My son is so bright; he’s on the honor roll and Cardinal roll at his school.
- Growing up, I was always very bright, especially in English and writing classes.
- We have a bright future ahead of us.
- My brother wasn’t too bright; he struggled in school and barely made it through college. But he graduated, and I’m so proud of him.
- The lab room was very bright.
- I always love to see the bright morning sun every day.
- She closed her eyes against the bright light from the flashlight.
So, Is It Bright or Brite You’re Going for?
If you want to talk about something visually light, like sunshine, loud colors, or car headlights, then use the word bright. But you can also use it to describe someone very intelligent, too. Reserve the obscure word brite when talking about something that has overripened. However, keep in mind that the whole world has yet to fully catch up with the term, and may not be accepted in all contexts.
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