Brilliant
/ˈbrɪljənt/
adjectiveB2
Definition
Brilliant describes something that shines with strong light or color, like a bright diamond or sunlight. It also means someone or something that is very clever, talented, or excellent at what they do, like a brilliant idea or a brilliant student.
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⚡ See It in Action
Very bright or shining strongly
- •The stars were brilliant in the night sky.
- •She wore a brilliant red dress that caught everyone's attention.
- •The diamond's brilliant sparkle made it look very valuable.
Very clever, talented, or excellent
- •He had a brilliant idea that solved the problem quickly.
- •The student gave a brilliant answer in class.
- •The movie was brilliant because of its excellent story and acting.
🧲 Make It Stick
- ✓Think of 'brilliant' like 'bright' (A1 word), but much stronger and more impressive—like a light that is very clear and hard to miss
- ✓Picture a diamond sparkling under the sun, shining with many colors and catching your eye immediately
- ✓It's the feeling when you understand something quickly or see a very smart solution to a problem
- ✓Sounds like 'brill-yant' → imagine a bright light that fills the whole room, making everything clear and beautiful
- ✓Remember famous inventors or artists who had brilliant ideas that changed the world
- ✓NOT just 'bright' (simple light or color), 'brilliant' means very strong light or very smart and excellent
- ✓NOT like 'good' (general positive), 'brilliant' is much stronger and shows high skill or brightness
- ✓NOT like 'shiny' (only surface light), 'brilliant' can mean smartness or excellence, not just light
🔄 Try Other Words
- •Excellent: very good or high quality (Use when focusing on quality or skill rather than light)
- •Smart: clever or intelligent (Use when focusing on intelligence or ideas)
- •Shining: giving off light (Use when focusing only on light or brightness)
- •Bright: giving off light or intelligent (Use for less strong or less impressive light or ideas)
🔍 Unboxing
- •Word parts: No clear prefix or suffix; from root 'brilliant'
- •Etymology: From Latin 'brillare,' meaning 'to sparkle or shine'
- •Historical development: Entered English in the 17th century to describe shining light, later also used to mean clever or excellent
- •Modern usage: Used for strong light, colors, or to describe very smart people, ideas, or performances
- •Interesting fact: The word can describe both physical brightness and mental excellence, making it versatile
💭 Reflect & Connect
•Can something be brilliant in light but not in quality, or brilliant in quality but not in light? How do these meanings connect?
•How does calling a person or idea 'brilliant' affect how we see them or their work?
Fill in the blanks with the correct word:
1.The diamond was so brilliant that it ___ all the light in the room and made it sparkle.
2.She gave a brilliant answer because she ___ the topic very well.
3.A brilliant idea often comes when you ___ carefully about a problem.
4.Unlike a simple bright light, a brilliant light ___ your attention immediately.
5.The painting was brilliant because of its ___ colors and clear details.
6.When someone is called brilliant, it means they are very ___ or talented.
7.The stars looked brilliant in the sky, ___ a beautiful and clear night.