# brilliant

/ˈbɹɪɫjənt/ (US) · /bɹˈɪlɪənt/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/brilliant
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. very smart

adjective · CEFR A2

extremely intelligent or clever.

For teachers: possessing or displaying exceptional cognitive ability or mental acuity.

- She had a brilliant idea for solving the math problem.
- The scientist was widely regarded as a brilliant theorist whose work redefined the field of quantum mechanics.

### 2. excellent

adjective · CEFR A2

very good, wonderful, or successful.

For teachers: of surpassing excellence; magnificent or highly successful.

- The actors gave a brilliant performance in the new play.
- The campaign was a brilliant success, exceeding all projected targets within the first three months.

### 3. shining brightly

adjective · CEFR B1

shining with a lot of light.

For teachers: shining brightly; characterized by high luminosity or intense reflection of light.

- The brilliant sunshine made the water look like silver.
- The brilliant light of the midday sun reflected off the glass skyscrapers, blinding the pedestrians below.

### 5. a gemstone

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

a diamond or other jewel cut in a way that makes it shine very brightly.

For teachers: a gemstone, typically a diamond, cut with numerous facets to maximize light reflection.

- The engagement ring featured a large brilliant surrounded by smaller sapphires.
- The jeweler explained that the brilliant cut is designed specifically to enhance the natural fire of the diamond.

Usage: Often used to refer to the 'brilliant cut' style of gemstone.

## Examples

- The scientist's solution was brilliant and solved the problem instantly.
- The printer's work was brilliant, with perfect color alignment and sharp text.
- The author's use of metaphor was brilliant, weaving together disparate themes into a cohesive narrative.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.