brilliant
B1Informal, formal, literary
Definition
Meaning
Exceptionally clever, talented, or outstanding in a way that inspires admiration.
Intensely bright or vivid in colour or light; of surpassing excellence; often used as an emphatic, informal term of approval.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Has a strong positive connotation. Can describe light, intelligence, skill, or performance. The informal use as a general term of approval (e.g., 'That's brilliant!') is very common in British English.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In British English, 'brilliant' is used very frequently in informal speech to mean 'excellent' or 'great'. In American English, it is more commonly reserved for describing exceptional intelligence or brightness, though the informal usage is understood.
Connotations
In UK English, it is a default, enthusiastic positive; in US English, it can sound slightly more formal or emphatic.
Frequency
Much more frequent in UK spoken English than in US spoken English.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[ADJ + noun][It is/was ADJ + to-infinitive][ADJ + at + noun/-ing]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “spark of brilliance”
- “stroke of brilliance”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
To describe a successful strategy or a highly skilled employee: 'Her brilliant marketing plan doubled our sales.'
Academic
To describe a significant discovery or an exceptional scholar: 'Einstein's brilliant theory of relativity.'
Everyday
As a general expression of approval: 'You got the tickets? Brilliant!'
Technical
To describe the quality of light or a reflective surface in physics/optics: 'The diamond displayed brilliant refraction.'
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- 'Brilliant' is not standardly used as a verb.
American English
- 'Brilliant' is not standardly used as a verb.
adverb
British English
- She played the sonata brilliantly.
- The plan worked brilliantly.
American English
- The team performed brilliantly under pressure.
- The crystal shone brilliantly in the display case.
adjective
British English
- That was a brilliant film, we must see it again.
- She came up with a brilliant plan to save money.
American English
- He is a brilliant mathematician at MIT.
- The stage lights were brilliant and nearly blinding.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The sun is brilliant today.
- Well done, that test score is brilliant!
- He had a brilliant idea for the school project.
- The fireworks were brilliant against the night sky.
- Her brilliant analysis of the data led to a major breakthrough.
- The director's brilliant use of lighting created a haunting atmosphere.
- While his argument was rhetorically brilliant, it was fundamentally flawed.
- The novel is a brilliant deconstruction of the genre's classic tropes.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a BRILLIANT light bulb above a genius's head—both exceptionally bright and clever.
Conceptual Metaphor
INTELLIGENCE IS LIGHT; SUCCESS IS BRIGHTNESS.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid overuse as a direct translation of 'бриллиантовый', which refers specifically to diamonds. In English, 'brilliant' for diamonds is a technical term (a 'brilliant cut'), not a general adjective for the gemstone itself.
- The informal British use ('Brilliant!') is closer to Russian 'Класс!' or 'Отлично!' than to 'Блестящий', which can sound overly formal in similar contexts.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'brilliant' to describe something merely good or adequate (hyperbole).
- Confusing 'brilliant' (adj.) with 'brilliantly' (adv.) in sentence structure: 'She played brilliant' (incorrect) vs. 'She played brilliantly' (correct).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the informal British use of 'brilliant' LEAST appropriate?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, especially in British English. For example, 'Brilliant. Now my car won't start,' said with a tone of frustration, means the opposite.
'Smart' denotes intelligence and quick thinking. 'Brilliant' is a stronger term, suggesting exceptional, extraordinary intelligence or talent that stands out markedly.
It is used for both equally: a brilliant person (intellect/talent), a brilliant idea/performance/colour (quality/attribute).
Yes, it is a standard collocation meaning an intensely bright, pure white, often used in marketing for paints, detergents, etc.