Word
scintillating
Phoneticsscin·til·lat·ing
UK/sˈɪntɪlˌeɪtɪŋ/
Definition
adj. very bright, lively, and clever in a way that holds your attention. You use it for talk, ideas, or performances that feel exciting and smart.
adj. sparkling, witty, and lively in a way that excites interest and admiration; applied to conversation, ideas, or performance rather than literal light. Retains a sense of flashing brilliance from its origin in describing sparks or stars.
Examples
“She gives a scintillating talk about space travel.”
“The dinner turns lively thanks to his scintillating stories about years working abroad.”
“Her scintillating lecture wove physics, poetry, and personal memory into an argument that left even sceptical colleagues quietly reconsidering their assumptions.”
Examples
simple
“She gives a scintillating talk about space travel.”
contextual
“The dinner turns lively thanks to his scintillating stories about years working abroad.”
complex
“Her scintillating lecture wove physics, poetry, and personal memory into an argument that left even sceptical colleagues quietly reconsidering their assumptions.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “scintillating” in context.
Verb
01. consider scintillating
“Critics consider her debut novel scintillating and boldly original.”
verb + adj
02. describe as scintillating
“Reviewers described the debate as scintillating and fiercely intelligent.”
verb + prep + adj
03. find scintillating
“Many readers will find his new essays lively and scintillating.”
verb + adj
04. prove scintillating
“The interview proved scintillating, full of sharp humour and insight.”
verb + adj
Adjective
05. absolutely scintillating
“The final act was absolutely scintillating and left the audience cheering.”
adv + adj
Noun
06. scintillating conversation
“Dinner with the two authors was a scintillating conversation about art.”
adj + noun
07. scintillating display
“The team produced a scintillating display of attacking football.”
adj + noun
08. scintillating performance
“The pianist gave a scintillating performance and earned a standing ovation.”
adj + noun
09. a scintillating conversation about
“We had a scintillating conversation about film and politics.”
10. a scintillating display of skill
“The final was a scintillating display of skill and speed.”
11. a scintillating performance by
“It was a scintillating performance by the young violinist.”
12. nothing short of scintillating
“The keynote speech was nothing short of scintillating.”
Usage
Typically placed before the noun it modifies; also follows linking verbs like 'be' or 'seem'.
Real-World Examples
“His conversation was scintillating, peppered with witty anecdotes.” “Arsenal were brought back down to earth with a shuddering bump by a scintillating display from Brighton as Fabian Hürzeler’s vibrant side celebrated the club’s 125th anniversary in style.” “Floyd Samba's scintillating debut stole the show at Etihad Stadium but also took the headlines away from another high-profile teenager in Manchester.” “Just check out the elegant, savage soiree taking place at the Pershing Square Signature Center, where “Edward Albee’s The Lady From Dubuque” opened on Monday night in a scintillating revival.” Etymology
From scintillate + -ing.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Related words
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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englishreference.com/q/scintillating