in the limelight

Idioms

Also, in the spotlight. At the center of public attention or notoriety. For example, John loves being in the limelight, or The reporters made sure the attractive new actress would be in the spotlight. Both terms come from the theater and allude to focusing light on an important person, the first from a lighting device used from about 1840 on, the second from the early 1900s. Also see in the public eye; steal the show.

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

On Wednesday morning, the votes were still being counted, but Pratt looked likely to finish second—good enough for a runoff with Bass and a few more months in the limelight.

From Slate • Jun. 3, 2026

I honestly think I see the best side of people who are in the limelight.

From Los Angeles Times • May 19, 2026

The war has put all things energy, including coal, natural gas, and oil, in the limelight.

From Barron's • Mar. 25, 2026

“My God, the Nazis knew how to put themselves in the limelight and present themselves,” said Bryan Ferry of Roxy Music in 2007.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 25, 2026

Lonna had been counting on her son to keep the Leep family in the limelight, which is the last place he wanted to be.

From "Hoot" by Carl Hiaasen

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

in the limelight

Example Sentences

Related Words