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houselights

American  
[hous-lahyts] / ˈhaʊsˌlaɪts /

plural noun

  1. the lamps providing illumination of the auditorium or seating area of a theater.


Etymology

Origin of houselights

First recorded in 1915–20; house + light 1 + -s 3

Vocabulary lists containing houselights

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.

I can't imagine what it feels like for you at this moment when the houselights are dim all over the world.

From Salon • Oct. 1, 2020

Q: So you “bump up the lights,” as you say, and have the houselights on all night?

From Washington Post • Apr. 7, 2016

As the houselights go down, the stage lights come up; the ambience is pearly gray.

From The New Yorker • Nov. 23, 2015

You hardly have a chance to wipe the tears away before the houselights come up.

From Time • Mar. 2, 2015

“Riverview Pirates never give up. But we did spend some time in a cave last night. Can we dim the houselights, please? Hit it, Kojo.”

From "The Smartest Kid in the Universe" by Chris Grabenstein

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