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Synonyms

spotlight

American  
[spot-lahyt] / ˈspɒtˌlaɪt /

noun

  1. 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.

  2. a lamp for producing such a light.

  3. 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.

  4. the area of immediate or conspicuous public attention.

    Asia is in the spotlight now.

verb (used with object)

spotlighted, spotlit, spotlighting

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

  2. to make conspicuous; call attention to.

    Newspapers spotlighted the story for a week.

  3. to hunt (animals) using a spotlight in order to temporarily blind or confuse them.

verb (used without object)

spotlighted, spotlit, spotlighting

  1. to hunt by using a spotlight.

spotlight British  
/ ˈspɒtˌlaɪt /

noun

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

  2. the focus of attention

"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

verb

  1. to direct a spotlight on

  2. 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
spotlight Idioms  

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

Other Word Forms

  • spotlighter noun
  • unspotlighted adjective

Etymology

Origin of spotlight

First recorded in 1910–15; spot + light 1

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.

It came into the spotlight late last year, and now controls wealth fund ADQ, which has assets including Etihad Airways.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 3, 2026

That doesn’t account for the investment frenzy that is expected to come with SpaceX’s initial public offering, loosely slated for this summer, which experts say will further put a spotlight on the space sector.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 31, 2026

The doll, a Mattel staple, rose to the spotlight following the 2023 hit movie, “Barbie,” but has since lost momentum.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 30, 2026

One resident told the BBC last month the town had been "ruined" by the media spotlight.

From BBC • Mar. 30, 2026

The clouds in the evening sky must have parted because I see a column of moonlight shine down on her like her own personal spotlight.

From "Kwame Crashes the Underworld" by Craig Kofi Farmer

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.