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

This was followed by a wickedly rich Saint-Émilion au chocolat for dessert, and a brilliant wine list – the hotel has one of the largest English wine cellars in the country. —Felicity Capon, TheWeek, 19 Feb. 2026

Yellowstone National Park is just an hour away, for example, and the park’s geothermal pools look even more brilliant set against a backdrop of all that melting snow. —Matt Ortile, Condé Nast Traveler, 19 Feb. 2026

For much of the game, the US players had huffed and puffed but failed to find a way past Canada’s stubborn defense – more notably, its brilliant goalie, Ann-Renee Desbiens. —Ben Church, CNN Money, 19 Feb. 2026

Without the freedom to embark on ambitious experiments in negative capability there would be no Moby Dicks or Anna Kareninas—no brilliant or meaningful fiction and in the end, really, no fiction. —Literary Hub, 19 Feb. 2026

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