limelight
Americannoun
-
Theater.
-
(formerly) a lighting unit for spotlighting the front of the stage, producing illumination by means of a flame of mixed gases directed at a cylinder of lime and having a special lens for concentrating the light in a strong beam.
-
the light so produced.
-
Chiefly British. a lighting unit, especially a spotlight.
-
-
the center of public attention, interest, observation, or notoriety.
He seems fond of the limelight.
noun
-
a position of public attention or notice (esp in the phrase in the limelight )
-
-
a type of lamp, formerly used in stage lighting, in which light is produced by heating lime to white heat
-
Also called: calcium light. brilliant white light produced in this way
-
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of limelight
Explanation
To be in the limelight is to be at the center of public attention. It might make you a little jealous if your best friend's acting career suddenly puts her in the limelight. When a newly popular musician finds himself in the limelight, he might be surprised at all the attention. Someone who's in the limelight is constantly being talked about, interviewed, and photographed. In the early 1800's, theater stages were lit by heating a cylinder of the mineral called lime — the result was an intensely bright white light. The word limelight came to have its figurative meaning of "at the center of attention" in 1877.
Vocabulary lists containing limelight
Bronx Masquerade
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
A Deadly Wandering
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Baseball in April
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
Limelight was the coolest, but I loved Tunnel.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 25, 2026
Appeared in the June 23, 2026, print edition as 'Our Nation in the Limelight'.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 22, 2026
The Manchester indie-rockers' debut single 'Supersonic' was released this week in 1994 and that song, recorded live at the Limelight in Belfast, has been re-released to celebrate the anniversary.
From BBC • Apr. 12, 2024
“Now it was the Limelight, an epicenter of the downtown club scene,” Keller wrote.
From Slate • Jul. 13, 2023
Bobby sent Shepherd notes, attended live performances that the radio host gave at a Greenwich Village coffeehouse called the Limelight, and visited him at his studio at 1440 Broadway.
From "Endgame" by Frank Brady
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
