spotlight

[spot-lahyt]

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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.

Origin of spotlight

First recorded in 1910–15; spot + light¹

Related formsspot·light·er, nounun·spot·light·ed, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for spotlight

limelight, publicity, light, notoriety, fame, highlight, publicize, accentuate, illuminate, interest, flashlight, floodlight, feature

Examples from the Web for spotlight

Contemporary Examples of spotlight

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
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
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
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
Because they knew even as they succeeded in hogging the spotlight people were snickering at them.
Of Gamers, Gates, and Disco Demolition: The Roots of Reactionary Rage
Arthur Chu
October 16, 2014

Historical Examples of spotlight

They had a spotlight on one of the cars which they kept moving in wide circles.
A Yankee Flier Over Berlin
Al Avery
She was standing in a spotlight, Forrester thought at first.
Pagan Passions
Gordon Randall Garrett
The Swami made a determined effort to recapture the spotlight.
Sense from Thought Divide
Mark Irvin Clifton
To go down at this point was simply to spotlight his presence for any Throg on his trail.
Storm Over Warlock
Andre Norton
At least, it would put Frank Corson, unknown intern, into the spotlight for a while.
Ten From Infinity
Paul W. Fairman

British Dictionary definitions for spotlight

spotlight

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

Word Origin and History for spotlight

1904, from spot (n.) + light (n.). Originally a theatrical equipment; figurative sense is attested from 1916. The verb is first recorded 1923.

Idioms and Phrases with spotlight

spotlight

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