Examples Word Origin
See more synonyms for spotlight on Thesaurus.com 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. Show More
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. Show More
verb (used without object), spot·light·ed or spot·lit, spot·light·ing. to hunt by using a spotlight. Show More
Origin of spotlight First recorded in
1910–15; spot +
light1 Related forms spot·light·er , noun un·spot·light·ed , adjective Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
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 .
She had all the pressure of people in the spotlight and was unbelievably rigorous about keeping it real.
In this age of selfies, the president had chosen someone who never seeks the spotlight and lets her work speak for itself.
Dredging up the Wichita Massacre puts the two justices who were part of the 6-to-1 majority ruling in the spotlight .
Because they knew even as they succeeded in hogging the spotlight people were snickering at them.
Historical Examples of spotlight They had a spotlight on one of the cars which they kept moving in wide circles.
She was standing in a spotlight , Forrester thought at first.
The Swami made a determined effort to recapture the spotlight .
To go down at this point was simply to spotlight his presence for any Throg on his trail.
At least, it would put Frank Corson, unknown intern, into the spotlight for a while.
British Dictionary definitions for spotlight 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 Show More
verb -lights , -lighting , -lit or -lighted (tr) to direct a spotlight on to focus attention on Show More
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 n. 1904, from spot (n.) + light (n.). Originally a theatrical equipment; figurative sense is attested from 1916. The verb is first recorded 1923.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Idioms and Phrases with spotlight see in the limelight (spotlight); steal the show (spotlight).
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The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
