What does reddened mean?
Reddened describes something that has become red, most often a face or cheeks showing embarrassment, anger, heat, or exertion. As a past-tense or past-participial form of the verb 'redden,' it can also refer to a color or light changing toward red, as when a sky reddens at sunset. The adjective is common in both formal and informal English and conveys a visible change or reaction rather than simply the possession of a red color. It is especially useful when the cause or intensity of the redness matters: a 'reddened face' often implies discomfort or embarrassment, whereas 'reddened by the wind' suggests exposure to cold or harsh weather. In literary contexts, the word can also describe glowing or deepening shades of red without referring to a person.
Having become red, especially because of embarrassment, anger, heat, or exertion.
"He lowered his reddened face and tried to hide his relief."
Commonly used with 'face', 'cheeks', 'eyes', and 'skin', either literally or to indicate a strong emotional reaction.
To become red or to make something red.
"The evening sky reddened behind the hills."
This entry represents the standard past tense and past participle forms of 'redden'.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does reddened come from?
The word comes from the verb 'redden,' formed from 'red' with the suffix '-en', with the historical form of the verb attested in Middle English. The past tense and past participle 'reddened' consequently came to function independently as an adjective. Its wider family includes 'reddish' and 'ruddy', both associated with the same longstanding Germanic root for the color red.
Related word forms
How reddened is actually used
Most often describes a person's face or cheeks becoming red from embarrassment, anger, heat, or exertion. It can also function literally as the past tense or past participle of the verb 'redden'.