brilliant

[ bril-yuhnt ]

adjective

1. shining brightly; sparkling; glittering; lustrous:

   the brilliant lights of the city.

2. distinguished; illustrious:

   a brilliant performance by a young pianist.

3. having or showing great intelligence, talent, quality, etc.:

   a brilliant technician.

4. strong and clear in tone; vivid; bright:

   brilliant blues and greens; the brilliant sound of the trumpets.

5. splendid or magnificent:

   a brilliant social event.

noun

1. Jewelry. a gem, especially a diamond, having any of several varieties of the brilliant cut.
2. Printing. a size of type about 3½-point.

brilliant

/ ˈbrɪljənt /

adjective

1. shining with light; sparkling
2. (of a colour) having a high saturation and reflecting a considerable amount of light; vivid
3. outstanding; exceptional

   a brilliant success

4. splendid; magnificent

   a brilliant show

5. of outstanding intelligence or intellect

   a brilliant idea

   a brilliant mind

6. music
   1. (of the tone of an instrument) having a large proportion of high harmonics above the fundamental
   2. Alsobrilliantbrijɑ̃brilliantebrijɑ̃t with spirit; lively

noun

1. Also calledbrilliant cut
   1. a popular circular cut for diamonds and other gemstones in the form of two many-faceted pyramids (the top one truncated) joined at their bases
   2. a diamond of this cut
2. (formerly) a size of a printer's type approximately equal to 4 point

Derived Forms

• ˈbrilliantly, adverb

Other Words From

• brilliant·ly adverb
• brilliant·ness noun
• over·brilliant adjective
• over·brilliant·ly adverb
• quasi-brilliant adjective
• quasi-brilliant·ly adverb
• un·brilliant adjective
• un·brilliant·ly adverb
• un·brilliant·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of brilliant¹

First recorded in 1675–85; from French brillant “shining,” present participle of briller “to shine,” from Italian brillare, perhaps either ultimately from Latin bēryllus beryl ( def ) or derivative of an expressive root

Word History and Origins

Origin of brilliant¹

C17: from French brillant shining, from briller to shine, from Italian brillare , from brillo beryl

Synonym Study

See bright.

Example Sentences

At its most brilliant and spectral, beauty helps us hold on.

From Los Angeles Times

After the birth of her son, the first three months were brilliant, her family say.

From BBC

After hours of searching with mountain rescue, her sister Faye was told that the "bubbly, caring and brilliant mum" had taken her own life.

From BBC

But Conservative peer Brady said planned "extreme redistribution" would "replace our brilliant but brutal meritocracy with the likelihood of a closed shop where survival not aspiration becomes a ceiling".

From BBC

Indeed, it may be some blue-sky thinking from a player, no matter how brilliant, who has not won a trophy in his career for club or country.

From BBC

Related Words

• accomplished
• astute
• bright
• gifted
• ingenious
• inventive
• sharp
• smart
• talented