limelight

American  

[lahym-lahyt] / ˈlaɪmˌlaɪt /

noun

1. Theater.

   1. (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.

   2. the light so produced.

   3. Chiefly British. a lighting unit, especially a spotlight.

2. the center of public attention, interest, observation, or notoriety.

   He seems fond of the limelight.

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limelight British  

/ ˈlaɪmˌlaɪt /

noun

1. a position of public attention or notice (esp in the phrase in the limelight )

2. 1. a type of lamp, formerly used in stage lighting, in which light is produced by heating lime to white heat

   2. Also called: calcium light. brilliant white light produced in this way

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Other Word Forms

• limelighter
  noun

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Etymology

Origin of limelight

First recorded in 1820–30; lime ² + light ¹

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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.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

limelight

French government bonds continued to hold the limelight in sovereign debt markets.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 23, 2026

The actors, in turn, can add a few performances for their sizzle reels that post-date whatever controversy pushed them out of the limelight.

From Salon ● Oct. 18, 2026

But she then stepped away from the limelight to raise a family with director Jeffrey Hayden.

From BBC ● Oct. 7, 2026

After a decade of starring roles and magazine covers, Thomas stepped away from the limelight to focus on school, and attended Harvard, Columbia and the University of St. Andrews in Scotland.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 24, 2026

Yet in its very portrayal, and in the lavish detail paid to its design, there was a certain false glitz, as though the entire exhibit were under a limelight.

From "The City Beautiful" by Aden Polydoros

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Related Words

• glare
• prominence
• public eye
• spotlight

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