spotlight

[ spot-lahyt ]

noun

1. a strong, focused light thrown upon a particular spot, as on a small area of a stage or in a television studio, for making some object, person, or group especially conspicuous.
2. a lamp for producing such a light.
3. a brilliant light with a focused beam, mounted on the side of an automobile and used for illuminating objects not within range of the headlights.
4. the area of immediate or conspicuous public attention:

   Asia is in the spotlight now.

verb (used with object)

, spot·light·ed or spot·lit, spot·light·ing.

1. to direct the beam of a spotlight upon; light with a spotlight.
2. to make conspicuous; call attention to:

   Newspapers spotlighted the story for a week.

3. to hunt (animals) using a spotlight in order to temporarily blind or confuse them.

verb (used without object)

, spot·light·ed or spot·lit, spot·light·ing.

1. to hunt by using a spotlight.

spotlight

/ ˈspɒtˌlaɪt /

noun

1. a powerful light focused so as to illuminate a small area, usually mounted so that it can be directed at will
2. the spotlight
   the spotlight the focus of attention

verb

1. to direct a spotlight on
2. to focus attention on

Other Words From

• spotlighter noun
• un·spotlighted adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of spotlight¹

First recorded in 1910–15; spot + light ¹

Idioms and Phrases

see in the limelight (spotlight) ; steal the show (spotlight) .

Example Sentences

The last few months have put technology and its role in society, especially in the United States, in the spotlight.

From TechCrunch

They don’t do it for not a big salary, no spotlight, no interview, just because they care, they want to do something about it.

From Time

Now that I was in the spotlight I was like, “OK, well, now that I got everyone’s attention, I got to really make the world proud and do something.”

From Ozy

That spotlight will now fall on Jassy, and politicians are already preparing.

From Washington Post

The actions by two have driven our beautiful town into the national spotlight in ways that do not reflect our whole community.

From Washington Post

Both Ney and Abramoff have reentered the public spotlight following their sentences, writing books about their experiences.

From The Daily Beast

Fumes filled the arena, engines revved, and the beastly vehicles made their way out on to the spotlight.

From The Daily Beast

She had all the pressure of people in the spotlight and was unbelievably rigorous about keeping it real.

From The Daily Beast

In this age of selfies, the president had chosen someone who never seeks the spotlight and lets her work speak for itself.

From The Daily Beast

Dredging up the Wichita Massacre puts the two justices who were part of the 6-to-1 majority ruling in the spotlight.

From The Daily Beast

"I guess mother will be gladder than any of us," replied Betty promptly, trying to shift the spotlight from herself.

From Project Gutenberg

The Swami made a determined effort to recapture the spotlight.

From Project Gutenberg

On the huge statue, a spotlight was following two microscopic figures over the statue's shoulder.

From Project Gutenberg

They had mounted a heavy machine-gun to point seaward and a self-powered spotlight, not turned on, rested nearby.

From Project Gutenberg

She saw the spotlight in the hand of an officer up the deck and she hastened toward him.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• accentuate
• highlight
• illuminate
• point up
• publicize