brilliant

1 of 2

adjective

bril·​liant ˈbril-yənt 

1

: very bright : glittering

a brilliant light

2

a

: striking, distinctive

a brilliant example

b

: distinguished by unusual mental keenness or alertness

brilliant scientists

3

British : very good : excellent

brilliantly adverb

brilliant

2 of 2

noun

: a gem (such as a diamond) cut in a particular form with numerous facets so as to have special brightness or brilliance

Illustration of brilliant

• 1 table
• 2 bezel
• 3 girdle
• 4 pavilion
• 5 culet

Synonyms of brilliant

Adjective

• dazzling
• luminous
• shining
• glowing
• bright
• shiny
• splendid
• radiant

Noun

• gem
• jewel
• rock

Choose the Right Synonym for brilliant

bright, brilliant, radiant, luminous, lustrous mean shining or glowing with light.

bright implies emitting or reflecting a high degree of light.

brilliant implies intense often sparkling brightness.

radiant stresses the emission or seeming emission of rays of light.

luminous implies emission of steady, suffused, glowing light by reflection or in surrounding darkness.

lustrous stresses an even, rich light from a surface that reflects brightly without glittering.

Examples of brilliant in a Sentence

Adjective

a brilliant star in the sky

a store decorated in brilliant colors

He pitched a brilliant game.

She gave a brilliant performance.

She has a brilliant mind.

Noun

the diamond cutter set out an array of brilliants to show the various ways the diamond could be cut

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Gonzo the Great Curious, chaotic and weirdly brilliant, Gonzo is always chasing new ideas and reinventing himself in the process, which is quite similar to Gemini’s duality. —Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 27 Nov. 2025

At this price, this is a brilliant drone for beginners or hobbyists who don't want to break the bank. —Chris McMullen, Space.com, 26 Nov. 2025

Also on the slate is My Homicide, created by Bruce Ramsay (The Porter), a procedural about a brilliant detective haunted by his wife’s unsolved murder who teams up with an AI version of himself to solve impossible crimes and unravel the mystery that could tear them both apart. —Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 26 Nov. 2025

Sure, tip your cap to Panthers cornerback Jaycee Horn for a brilliant play. —Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 25 Nov. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

French brillant, present participle of briller to shine, from Italian brillare

Noun

borrowed from French brillant, noun derivative of brillant brilliant entry 1

First Known Use

Adjective

circa 1681, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1690, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for brilliant

• resilient

Kids Definition

brilliant

1 of 2 adjective

bril·​liant ˈbril-yənt 

1

: flashing with light : very bright

brilliant jewels

2

a

: very impressive

a brilliant career

b

: very smart or clever

a brilliant student

a brilliant idea

brilliantly adverb

brilliant

2 of 2 noun

: a gem (as a diamond) cut so as to sparkle