Dictionary
1spotlight
noun spot·light \ˈspät-ˌlīt\
: a device that directs a narrow, bright beam of light on a small area
: the area of light created by a spotlight
the spotlight : public attention or notice
Full Definition of SPOTLIGHT
1
a : a projected spot of light used to illuminate brilliantly a person, object, or group on a stage b : public notice or attention <held the political spotlight>
2
a : a light designed to direct a narrow intense beam of light on a small area b : something that illuminates brilliantly
See spotlight defined for English-language learners
See spotlight defined for kids
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First Known Use of SPOTLIGHT
1904
Related to SPOTLIGHT
- Synonyms
- catbird seat, limelight, center stage, top billing
Rhymes with SPOTLIGHT
affright, air right, airtight, albite, Albright, alight, all right, all-night, a mite, aright, backbite, backlight, bauxite, bedight, birthright, black light, bleed white, bobwhite, bombsight, box kite, calcite, campsite, catfight, cockfight, contrite, cordite, Cushite, daylight, deadlight, delight, dendrite, despite, dogfight, downlight, downright, droplight, dust mite, earthlight, excite, eyebright, eyesight, fanlight, felsite, ferrite, finite, fire blight, firefight, firelight, first night, fistfight, flashlight, fleabite, floodlight, foresight, forthright, fortnight, freewrite, frostbite, Gadite, gall mite, gaslight, gastight, ghostwrite, goethite, graphite, green light, gummite, gunfight, half-light, halite, Hamite, handwrite, headlight, highlight, hindsight, Hittite, homesite, hoplite, Hussite, ignite, illite, infight, in-flight, incite, indict, indite, insight, in sight, invite, jacklight, jadeite, key light, lamplight, late blight, leucite, Levite, lighttight, lignite, limelight, lintwhite, lowlight, Lucite, Luddite, lyddite, marmite, Melchite, Memphite, midnight, millwright, moonlight, New Right, night-light, nitrite, off-site, off-white, on sight, on-site, outright, outsight, partite, peep sight, penlight, perlite, playwright, polite, preflight, prizefight, pyrite, quartzite, ratite, recite, red light, red-light, requite, respite, rewrite, rushlight, rust mite, safelight, samite, searchlight, Semite, Servite, Shemite, Shiite, shipwright, sidelight, sit tight, skintight, skylight, skywrite, slant height, smectite, snakebite, snow-white, sound bite, spaceflight, stage fright, starlight, sternite, sticktight, stoplight, streetlight, stylite, sulfite, sunlight, Sunnite, taillight, termite, thermite, tonight, torchlight, trothplight, Twelfth Night, twilight, twi-night, typewrite, unite, unsight, upright, uptight, wainwright, watch night, wax light, Web site, weeknight, wheelwright, white flight, white knight, x-height, zinc white
2spotlight
transitive verb
: to shine a spotlight on (someone or something)
: to give special attention to (something)
spotlight·ed or -litspotlight·ing
Full Definition of SPOTLIGHT
1
: to illuminate with a spotlight
2
: to direct attention to : highlight
First Known Use of SPOTLIGHT
1922
SPOTLIGHTED Defined for Kids
1spotlight
noun spot·light \ˈspät-ˌlīt\
Definition of SPOTLIGHT for Kids
1
: a spot of light used to show up a particular area, person, or thing (as on a stage)
2
: public notice <She's a celebrity but doesn't like the spotlight.>
3
: a lamp used to direct a narrow strong beam of light on a small area
2spotlight
verb
spot·light·ed or spot·lit \ˈspät-ˌlit\spot·light·ing
Definition of SPOTLIGHT for Kids
1
: to light up with or as if with a spotlight
2
: to bring to public attention
Learn More About SPOTLIGHT
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