The word "fade" is a verb with several meanings, and there are different antonyms depending on the specific sense in which it is used.
- When "fade" means to become less bright, intense, or vivid
- The antonym is "brighten" or "intensify". For example, when we talk about colors, a fabric may fade after many washes, meaning its colors become less vivid. The opposite would be for the colors to brighten, perhaps through the use of a color - enhancing detergent. In a sentence, we could say, "The sun's rays caused the paint on the house to fade over the years, but a fresh coat of paint would brighten it up again."
- Another way to think about it is in terms of light. If a light fades, it becomes dimmer. The antonym in this case would be for the light to intensify or become stronger. For instance, "As the batteries in the flashlight weakened, the beam began to fade. Replacing the batteries made the beam intensify."
- When "fade" means to gradually disappear or become weaker
- The antonyms could be "appear", "strengthen", or "emerge". Consider a sound that fades away, like the sound of a distant train. The opposite would be for a sound to appear or become louder and more distinct. For example, "The music from the concert hall faded as we walked further away, but as we got closer again, it reappeared and grew louder."
- In terms of strength, if a memory fades, it becomes less strong in our minds. The antonym would be for the memory to strengthen. We might say, "Over time, the details of her face in my memory began to fade. But looking at old photos helped the memories to strengthen."
- Also, when something fades into the background, it is disappearing from the forefront. The antonym would be for it to emerge. For example, "The shy student's voice faded during the group discussion, but with encouragement, it emerged more strongly."
- When "fade" means to wither or lose freshness (usually in reference to plants)
- The antonyms are "flourish" or "bloom". For example, flowers that are not watered properly will fade and die. The opposite would be for them to flourish and bloom. We could write, "The roses in the neglected garden began to fade, but with proper care and watering, they would bloom again and flourish."