light show

American

noun

a form of entertainment consisting chiefly of constantly changing patterns of light and color, usually accompanied by music and sound effects.

light show British

noun

a kaleidoscopic display of moving lights, etc, projected onto a screen, esp during pop concerts

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of light show

First recorded in 1965–70

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.

Saks canceled its holiday light show in 2024 but reinstated it in 2025.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 14, 2026

As the light show unfolded, the lantern's blindingly bright facades concealed a flurry of activity behind, as teams of people turned large metal barrels called rotors by hand to produce a kaleidoscopic effect.

From Barron's • Dec. 19, 2025

Another network correspondent reported “a tremendous light show here, just a tremendous light show.”

From Salon • Sep. 8, 2025

The L.A. shows — featuring performances by Paul Kalkbrenner, Empire of the Sun, Moby, the Blaze and Black Coffee — incorporate immersive 8K projections, spatial soundscapes, an electric light show and other multisensory components.

From Los Angeles Times • May 7, 2025

Dark patches, not light, show in the spaces between us.

From "Mockingjay" by Suzanne Collins

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