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

Adjective

• beaming
• bedazzling
• bright
• candescent
• clear
• dazzling
• effulgent
• fulgent
• glowing
• incandescent
• lambent
• lucent
• lucid
• luminous
• lustrous
• radiant
• refulgent
• sheeny
• shining
• shiny
• splendid

Noun

• gem
• gemstone
• jewel
• rock [slang]

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

The Avs’ two superstars were brilliant for much of Sunday night, firing off laser beams and relentlessly creating offense for Colorado. —Matt Schubert, The Denver Post, 21 Apr. 2024

The standout in the cast is the Violetta of Rachel Willis-Sorensen, her silvery and supple soprano making for a more brilliant than affectingly consumptive character. —Mark Swed, Los Angeles Times, 19 Apr. 2024

No one deserves it more … for a lifetime of brilliant work. —Charlotte Phillipp, Peoplemag, 18 Apr. 2024

Many with fewer gifts who are yet more steadfast go on to have brilliant careers as artists. —Aatish Taseer, New York Times, 18 Apr. 2024

Bobby Morgan preserved Erskine's no-hitter against the Cubs with two brilliant fielding plays at third base. —CBS News, 16 Apr. 2024

The flowers have filled a place best known for its shades of browns and grays with brilliant blasts of yellow and purple and sprinkles of pink and cream. —Alice Li, Washington Post, 13 Apr. 2024

Snell’s first start wasn’t brilliant by any means, but his flashes of potency and veteran presence should at least give fans a reason to come to the ballpark every five days. —Jason Mastrodonato, The Mercury News, 9 Apr. 2024

The song was a great encapsulation of country music, made for brilliant line dancing videos and has been on repeat for months. —Jason Lipshutz, Billboard, 9 Apr. 2024

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

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