spotlight
Americannoun
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spotlights
plural
-
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.
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the area of immediate or conspicuous public attention.
Asia is in the spotlight now.
verb (used with object)
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spotlights,
present (3rd person singular)
-
spotlighted,
past participle, past
-
spotlit,
past participle, past
-
spotlighting
present participle
-
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.
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to hunt (animals) using a spotlight in order to temporarily blind or confuse them.
verb (used without object)
-
spotlights,
present (3rd person singular)
-
spotlighted,
past participle, past
-
spotlit,
past participle, past
-
spotlighting
present participle
noun
-
a powerful light focused so as to illuminate a small area, usually mounted so that it can be directed at will
-
the focus of attention
verb
-
to direct a spotlight on
-
to focus attention on
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
spotlightsimple
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spotlightssimple
-
have spotlightedperfect
-
have spotlitperfect
-
has spotlightedperfect
-
has spotlitperfect
-
am spotlightingprogressive
-
are spotlightingprogressive
-
is spotlightingprogressive
-
have been spotlightingperfect progressive
-
has been spotlightingperfect progressive
Past
-
spotlightedsimple
-
spotlitsimple
-
had spotlightedperfect
-
had spotlitperfect
-
was spotlightingprogressive
-
were spotlightingprogressive
-
had been spotlightingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of spotlight
Explanation
A spotlight is a bright beam of light that shines on people on stage. Actors and rock stars love spending time in the spotlight when they’re performing, but if they’re famous they’re in the spotlight all the time. If you star in the school play, you'll be in a literal spotlight, illuminated on the stage while you sing your big solo number. If some day you're elected President of the United States, you'll be in a figurative spotlight, at the center of intense attention by the public. You can also call this limelight. Lighting experts often call spotlights followspots.
Vocabulary lists containing spotlight
Theater - Introductory
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Theater - Middle School
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Theater - High School
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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.
See Examples For:
The case comes as the police service is in the spotlight at a major public inquiry over allegations of corruption and collusion with criminals.
From BBC ● Sep. 22, 2026
One featured K-pop star Karina clutching a pair of the brand’s classic high-top black sneakers by her side and wearing a white skirt, with a star spotlight in center frame.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 19, 2026
All conductors struggle with the contents of such inaugural bills, wanting them to shine a spotlight without seeming self-aggrandizing.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 17, 2026
The rapid development of artificial intelligence and fears over the risks the technology poses to humanity have been thrust into the spotlight by a series of warnings from executives and staff at AI firms.
From BBC ● Sep. 14, 2026
The moon was hoisted to the center of the sky as I ran, a big stage spotlight among the smaller bulbs of stars.
From "The Marrow Thieves" by Cherie Dimaline
The paper also spotlights the Chief Rabbi's words, who called it "truly a dark day for British Jews".
From BBC ● Sep. 9, 2026
Although the report spotlights some of the issues, Marquez said, a more thorough study needs to be done to get a handle on the entire health effects of the fire.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 20, 2026
This poignant exhibition at the University of Cambridge spotlights work made during or after violent conflict, ranging from World War I ‘trench art’ to artifacts from the current war in Ukraine.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 15, 2026
The move revealed that Strategy cares deeply about its preferred shares’ market prices, despite not using them in the mNAV metric that it spotlights for investors.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 6, 2026
In the distance, Lawrence could see the glow of spotlights illuminating the spindly hundred-foot-tall test tower from which the plutonium “gadget” was suspended.
From "Big Science" by Michael Hiltzik
Followers have been suggesting spots in their own cities where crashes are frequent and they believe the problem should be spotlighted.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 2, 2026
Home Depot and other big retailers’ earnings have long been spotlighted as an indicator of the current health of the U.S. consumer — especially as borrowing costs have hit multiyear highs.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 18, 2026
None have been retracted, although Nature Medicine last week retracted a separate paper about cancer treatment led by Chinese researchers that Geng hadn’t spotlighted.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 2, 2026
"So it's amazing when you can get spotlighted in that way and you're still breaking through but you're around these huge heritage names," Maisie says.
From BBC ● Mar. 27, 2026
One eye on the binnacle, the other on the spotlighted water before his bow, Kabuo inched forward on blind faith.
From "Snow Falling on Cedars: A Novel" by David Guterson
Then Cruise appeared, spotlit atop the stadium’s curved roofline.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 11, 2024
Summer, 1954 With her paper-cluttered desk spotlit underneath a pendant lamp, Margaret Mead’s office in the western turret in the American Museum of Natural History resembled a Broadway theater set.
From Slate ● Feb. 10, 2024
While the previous songs she’s released from the record have been glitchy and ethereal — think hyperpop crossed with “Visions”-era Grimes — “Nike” is all woozy low-end and spotlit swagger.
From New York Times ● Sep. 2, 2022
One species in particular gets spotlit in the new report: beavers.
From The Verge ● Dec. 14, 2021
It was also being spotlit by 1441 L St. I stood in the iridescent shaft and delighted in the shadow I cast.
From Washington Post ● Oct. 20, 2019
“Vanderpump Rules” alum Jax Taylor blamed an “honest mistake” after posting an unauthorized #partner campaign for Smartwater, spotlighting vulnerabilities in third-party influencer platforms.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 3, 2026
Typically, the messaging about the sporting event spotlighting the country’s greatness comes from the top down.
From Slate ● Jun. 25, 2026
ESA's Mars Express mission is spotlighting Shalbatana Vallis this month, an enormous Martian valley marked by evidence of ancient water, volcanic activity, impact craters, and collapsed terrain.
From Science Daily ● May 15, 2026
An exhibition spotlighting one of the world's most valuable rare books has opened in Glasgow.
From BBC ● May 1, 2026
“Aim lower,” said Grace, spotlighting the pair of tunnels with her dusty beam.
From "The Smartest Kid in the Universe" by Chris Grabenstein
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
