brilliant
♦ bril|liant /br'ɪliənt/
1 [ADJ] usu ADJ n
A brilliant person, idea, or performance is extremely clever or skilful.
She had a brilliant mind...
It was his brilliant performance in `My Left Foot' that established his reputation.
● brilliantly [ADV] usu ADV with v, also ADV adj
It is a very high quality production, brilliantly written and acted.
● brilliance [N-UNCOUNT] oft with poss
He was a deeply serious musician who had shown his brilliance very early.
2 [ADJ]
You can say that something is brilliant when you are very pleased about it or think that it is very good. (mainly BRIT INFORMAL, SPOKEN)
If you get a chance to see the show, do go-it's brilliant...
My sister's given me this brilliant book.
= great
≠ awful
● brilliantly [ADV] ADV with v, ADV adj/adv
It's extremely hard working together but on the whole it works brilliantly and we're still good friends.
3 [ADJ] usu ADJ n
A brilliant career or success is very successful.
He served four years in prison, emerging to find his brilliant career in ruins...
The raid was a brilliant success.
● brilliantly [ADV]
The strategy worked brilliantly.
4 [ADJ] ADJ n
A brilliant colour is extremely bright.
...a brilliant white open-necked shirt.
● brilliantly [ADV] ADV adj/-ed
Many of the patterns show brilliantly coloured flowers.
● brilliance [N-UNCOUNT]
...an iridescent blue butterfly in all its brilliance.
5 [ADJ]
You describe light, or something that reflects light, as brilliant when it shines very brightly.
The event was held in brilliant sunshine...
● brilliantly [ADV] ADV adj/-ed, ADV after v
It's a brilliantly sunny morning.
● brilliance [N-UNCOUNT]
His eyes became accustomed to the dark after the brilliance of the sun outside.
1 [ADJ] usu ADJ n
A brilliant person, idea, or performance is extremely clever or skilful.
She had a brilliant mind...
It was his brilliant performance in `My Left Foot' that established his reputation.
● brilliantly [ADV] usu ADV with v, also ADV adj
It is a very high quality production, brilliantly written and acted.
● brilliance [N-UNCOUNT] oft with poss
He was a deeply serious musician who had shown his brilliance very early.
2 [ADJ]
You can say that something is brilliant when you are very pleased about it or think that it is very good. (mainly BRIT INFORMAL, SPOKEN)
If you get a chance to see the show, do go-it's brilliant...
My sister's given me this brilliant book.
= great
≠ awful
● brilliantly [ADV] ADV with v, ADV adj/adv
It's extremely hard working together but on the whole it works brilliantly and we're still good friends.
3 [ADJ] usu ADJ n
A brilliant career or success is very successful.
He served four years in prison, emerging to find his brilliant career in ruins...
The raid was a brilliant success.
● brilliantly [ADV]
The strategy worked brilliantly.
4 [ADJ] ADJ n
A brilliant colour is extremely bright.
...a brilliant white open-necked shirt.
● brilliantly [ADV] ADV adj/-ed
Many of the patterns show brilliantly coloured flowers.
● brilliance [N-UNCOUNT]
...an iridescent blue butterfly in all its brilliance.
5 [ADJ]
You describe light, or something that reflects light, as brilliant when it shines very brightly.
The event was held in brilliant sunshine...
● brilliantly [ADV] ADV adj/-ed, ADV after v
It's a brilliantly sunny morning.
● brilliance [N-UNCOUNT]
His eyes became accustomed to the dark after the brilliance of the sun outside.