Illustration of brilliant
- 1 table
- 2 bezel
- 3 girdle
- 4 pavilion
- 5 culet
bril·liant
ˈbril-yənt 
1
: very bright : glittering
a brilliant light
2
a
: striking, distinctive
a brilliant example
b
: distinguished by unusual mental keenness or alertness
brilliant scientists
3
British
: very good : excellent
brilliantly
adverb
: a gem (such as a diamond) cut in a particular form with numerous facets so as to have special brightness or brilliance
Examples of brilliant in a Sentence
Adjective
a brilliant star in the sky
a store decorated in brilliant colors
He pitched a brilliant game.
She gave a brilliant performance.
She has a brilliant mind.
Noun
the diamond cutter set out an array of brilliants to show the various ways the diamond could be cut
Recent Examples on the Web
The Athletic Nba Staff, New York Times, 23 Apr. 2025
Étoile doesn’t just make that argument, in guest appearances by artists who bridge high and low, like David Byrne, and shouting out the brilliant documentarian Frederick Wiseman in a scene set at the Manhattan cinema mecca Film Forum.
—Judy Berman, Time, 23 Apr. 2025
Through costume design, along with her brilliant acting, the audience gets to know who Emilia is at the core.
—Aleah Wright, Essence, 23 Apr. 2025
Part of the United States’ brilliant nineteenth-century strategy was also its superlative domestic economic policy, combining Low Taxes with a very business-friendly regulatory framework.
—Nathan Lewis, Forbes.com, 23 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for brilliant
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Adjective
That’s not going to be enough against Luka Dončić, who was brilliant again, and LeBron James, who nearly had a triple-double.
—The Athletic Nba Staff, New York Times, 23 Apr. 2025
Étoile doesn’t just make that argument, in guest appearances by artists who bridge high and low, like David Byrne, and shouting out the brilliant documentarian Frederick Wiseman in a scene set at the Manhattan cinema mecca Film Forum.
—Judy Berman, Time, 23 Apr. 2025
Through costume design, along with her brilliant acting, the audience gets to know who Emilia is at the core.
—Aleah Wright, Essence, 23 Apr. 2025
Part of the United States’ brilliant nineteenth-century strategy was also its superlative domestic economic policy, combining Low Taxes with a very business-friendly regulatory framework.
—Nathan Lewis, Forbes.com, 23 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for brilliant
Cite this Entry
“Brilliant.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/brilliant. Accessed 1 May. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
brilliant
1 of 2 adjective
bril·liant
ˈbril-yənt
1
: flashing with light : very bright
brilliant jewels
2
a
: very impressive
a brilliant career
b
: very smart or clever
a brilliant student
a brilliant idea
brilliantly
adverb
brilliant
2 of 2 noun
: a gem (as a diamond) cut so as to sparkle
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share