spotlight
Americannoun
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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.
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a lamp for producing such a light.
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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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to direct the beam of a spotlight upon; light with a spotlight.
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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)
noun
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a powerful light focused so as to illuminate a small area, usually mounted so that it can be directed at will
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the focus of attention
verb
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to direct a spotlight on
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to focus attention on
Other Word Forms
- spotlighter noun
- unspotlighted adjective
Etymology
Origin of spotlight
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.
The Season 12 cast of Bravo’s reality series has been completely revamped, and features 10 SUR employees who are vying for the spotlight.
From Los Angeles Times
That movie never happened and Reisman died in 2012 at the age of 82, still insisting he deserved to bask in the spotlight.
From Los Angeles Times
Introverts, that misunderstood office species, are getting their time in the corporate spotlight.
But Castro succeeds by zeroing in on the moments away from the spotlight where Quintanilla’s playful personality and vulnerable ambivalence paint her in a new, more humane light.
From Los Angeles Times
He played with local groups The Elastic Band, and Magdalene, but it was The Beautiful Losers which shone the spotlight on Rea, and he secured a solo recording deal with Magnet Records.
From BBC
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.
