spotlight

[ spot-lahyt ]

/ ˈspɒtˌlaɪt /

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See synonyms for spotlight on Thesaurus.com

noun

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.

a lamp for producing such a light.

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.

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.

to direct the beam of a spotlight upon; light with a spotlight.

to make conspicuous; call attention to: Newspapers spotlighted the story for a week.

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.

to hunt by using a spotlight.

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Origin of spotlight

First recorded in 1910–15; spot + light¹

OTHER WORDS FROM spotlight

spotlighter, nounun·spot·light·ed, adjective

Words nearby spotlight

spot announcement, spot card, spot check, spot height, spotless, spotlight, spot line, spot market, spot meter, spot news, spot-on

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use spotlight in a sentence

The last few months have put technology and its role in society, especially in the United States, in the spotlight.
The rise of the activist developer|Walter Thompson|February 9, 2021|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.
Kansas City Chiefs Lineman Laurent Duvernay-Tardif Stayed On The COVID-19 Front Lines. Now He's Missing The Super Bowl.|Sean Gregory|February 4, 2021|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.”
Cynthia Bailey on Modeling, Entrepreneurship and the ‘Real Housewife’ Life|Nick Fouriezos|February 4, 2021|Ozy
That spotlight will now fall on Jassy, and politicians are already preparing.
Jeff Bezos stepping down as Amazon CEO, transitioning to executive chair role|Jay Greene, Tony Romm|February 4, 2021|Washington Post

The actions by two have driven our beautiful town into the national spotlight in ways that do not reflect our whole community.
U.S. prosecutors eye 400 potential suspects, expect sedition charges ‘very soon’ in Jan. 6 Capitol breach|Spencer Hsu, Rachel Weiner, Devlin Barrett|January 27, 2021|Washington Post
Both Ney and Abramoff have reentered the public spotlight following their sentences, writing books about their experiences.
Abramoff’s Advice for Virginia’s New Jailhouse Guv|Tim Mak, Jackie Kucinich|January 7, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Fumes filled the arena, engines revved, and the beastly vehicles made their way out on to the spotlight.
The Moms of Monster Jam Drive Trucks, Buck Macho Culture|Eliza Krigman|November 22, 2014|DAILY BEAST
She had all the pressure of people in the spotlight and was unbelievably rigorous about keeping it real.
Can Condon's Freak Show Win Broadway?|Tim Teeman|November 18, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In this age of selfies, the president had chosen someone who never seeks the spotlight and lets her work speak for itself.
For Next AG, Obama Picks a Quiet Fighter With a Heavy Punch|Michael Daly|November 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Dredging up the Wichita Massacre puts the two justices who were part of the 6-to-1 majority ruling in the spotlight.
And Here Come 2014’s Willie Hortons|Eleanor Clift|November 2, 2014|DAILY BEAST
"I guess mother will be gladder than any of us," replied Betty promptly, trying to shift the spotlight from herself.
The Outdoor Girls in the Saddle|Laura Lee Hope
The Swami made a determined effort to recapture the spotlight.
Sense from Thought Divide|Mark Irvin Clifton
On the huge statue, a spotlight was following two microscopic figures over the statue's shoulder.
The Jewels of Aptor|Samuel R. Delany
They had mounted a heavy machine-gun to point seaward and a self-powered spotlight, not turned on, rested nearby.
The Sensitive Man|Poul William Anderson
She saw the spotlight in the hand of an officer up the deck and she hastened toward him.
Ruth Fielding In the Red Cross|Alice B. Emerson

British Dictionary definitions for spotlight

spotlight

/ (ˈspɒtˌlaɪt) /

noun

a powerful light focused so as to illuminate a small area, usually mounted so that it can be directed at will

the spotlight the focus of attention

verb -lights, -lighting, -lit or -lighted (tr)

to direct a spotlight on

to focus attention on

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

Other Idioms and Phrases with spotlight

spotlight

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

spotlight

Origin of spotlight

OTHER WORDS FROM spotlight

Words nearby spotlight

Words related to spotlight

How to use spotlight in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for spotlight

Other Idioms and Phrases with spotlight