Brilliant
adjective /ˈbrɪlɪənt/ — Shining brightly — and by extension, displaying exceptional intelligence or skill.
Definition
Bright and vivid in color; (of light) very bright; impressively clever or talented; outstanding; magnificent; (of a gemstone) cut with many facets.
Beyond the definition
Brilliant carries both registers fluently — the light (brilliant sunlight, brilliant colors) and the mind (brilliant solution, brilliant artist). The connection between them is real: brilliance in both cases names an intensity that stands out from its surroundings and illuminates what is near it.
Origin & history
From French brillant — sparkling (from briller: to shine, from Italian brillare). The sparkling — brilliant as the adjective of the thing that catches and throws back light.
Example sentences
Illustrative sentences for learning, not verified community posts or sourced quotations.
The idea was brilliant in the simple sense: it solved three problems with one change.
The autumn light was brilliant — low and lateral and making everything precise.
To call someone brilliant is to say they shed light where there was shadow.
How to use it
This entry uses an adjective. Follow the examples for the nouns it describes and its position in the sentence.
Choose “Brilliant” when the meaning fits your context: Bright and vivid in color; (of light) very bright; impressively clever or talented; outstanding; magnificent; (of a gemstone) cut with many facets.
Synonyms
Antonyms
dull, dim, mediocre, ordinary
Related words
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Word in the Wild
See how this word appears in life, language and stories.
Illustrative sentences and imagined stories for learning — not verified sightings, interviews, or sourced quotations.
Fictional scene
Brilliant Beam on Flower
A sharp, intense ray of sunlight pierces the clouds to illuminate a single, beautiful flower in a balcony pot.
Brilliant light is defined by its intensity and ability to highlight detail. The concentrated beam creates an impressively bright visual effect, illustrating how light can transform an ordinary object into something outstanding, consistent with the definition of being brilliant.
Image credit: Wordspun · AI-generated conceptual illustration
Questions about this word
What does "Brilliant" mean?
Brilliant is adjective meaning: Shining brightly — and by extension, displaying exceptional intelligence or skill.. Bright and vivid in color; (of light) very bright; impressively clever or talented; outstanding; magnificent; (of a gemstone) cut with many facets.
Where does the word "Brilliant" come from?
From French brillant — sparkling (from briller: to shine, from Italian brillare). The sparkling — brilliant as the adjective of the thing that catches and throws back light.