Meaning & use
brilliant
Last updated
Meanings
adjectivecomparable
Very intelligent, skilled or clever, especially in a way that stands out.
Grammar: Works before a noun or after be: a brilliant student; she is brilliant.
Patterns
- brilliant at something
- a brilliant mind
She was a brilliant scientist who won two major prizes.
What a brilliant idea to meet at the station!
He is brilliant at solving puzzles.
adjectivecomparable
Extremely bright, strong or vivid in light or color.
Grammar: Describes light or color, before a noun or after be: brilliant sunshine.
Patterns
- brilliant light
- brilliant color
The brilliant sunshine made us squint.
A brilliant blue butterfly landed on the flower.
The diamond flashed with brilliant light.
adjectivecomparableinformalBritish
Excellent or very enjoyable; used as strong praise.
Grammar: Common in British speech as an exclamation or reply: That's brilliant!
Patterns
- it's brilliant
- brilliant!
We had a brilliant holiday in Scotland.
The concert was absolutely brilliant.
'I got the job!' 'Brilliant!'
Word forms
| comparative | more brilliant |
|---|---|
| superlative | most brilliant |
Common combinations
- brilliant idea
- It was a brilliant idea to bring umbrellas.
- brilliant career
- She had a brilliant career in medicine.
- brilliant mind
- He had one of the most brilliant minds of his generation.
- brilliant sunshine
- We walked in brilliant sunshine along the coast.
- brilliant performance
- The pianist gave a brilliant performance.
Synonyms and how they differ
- clever
- Clever is lighter and everyday, while brilliant suggests exceptional ability.
- dazzling
- Dazzling describes light or beauty so bright it overwhelms, a stronger feeling than brilliant light.
- outstanding
- Outstanding means clearly better than others, but does not stress intelligence or light.
- great
- Great is a looser, more casual term of praise than brilliant.
Opposites
Word family
- brilliance noun
- great cleverness or great brightness
- brilliantly adverb
- in a very clever or bright way
- brilliancy noun
- an older form of brilliance
Commonly confused: brilliant or bright?
brilliant vs bright
Bright is a more general, everyday word for light, color or intelligence, while brilliant is stronger and more striking.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'brilliant' to mean extremely intelligent?
Choose one answer.
Only the third sentence describes a person with exceptional intelligence. The others describe bright light, enjoyment or strong color.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “brilliant”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.