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
Mac Engel, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 May 2025
Herbert works hard and plays hard — especially when his kids are out of town at camp, like Capricorns do, with his beautiful and brilliant wife, Lisa, by his side.
—Lisa Stardust, People.com, 28 May 2025
Jupiter will soon end its brilliant year-long showing on consecutive evenings with a rendezvous with an exceedingly thin and very young crescent moon.
—Joe Rao, Space.com, 27 May 2025
Moss is brilliant in this finale, showing a woman who was tortured and terrorized, whose heart was broken over and over, but survived.
—Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 26 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for brilliant
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Adjective
Every sports league is better with a bad guy, and Reese subtly demeaning Clark is a brilliant marketing ploy.
—Mac Engel, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 May 2025
Herbert works hard and plays hard — especially when his kids are out of town at camp, like Capricorns do, with his beautiful and brilliant wife, Lisa, by his side.
—Lisa Stardust, People.com, 28 May 2025
Jupiter will soon end its brilliant year-long showing on consecutive evenings with a rendezvous with an exceedingly thin and very young crescent moon.
—Joe Rao, Space.com, 27 May 2025
Moss is brilliant in this finale, showing a woman who was tortured and terrorized, whose heart was broken over and over, but survived.
—Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 26 May 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 3 Jun. 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
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