high beam

noun

: a vehicle headlight beam with a long-range focus

Examples of high beam in a Sentence

The car's headlights were on high beam. Turn off your high beams.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The car flashed its high beams at him and the car was driving close to the edge of the roadway, according to the arrest affidavit. Milena Malaver, Miami Herald, 12 May 2026 On the turn signal stalk, there’s a switch that turns my high beams on and off automatically. Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 8 May 2026 Outside, the street was now clogged with driverless cars, their high beams on, in confusion, in paralysis, lacking any traffic lights to tell them what to do. Catherine Lacey, New Yorker, 5 Apr. 2026 Also standard are automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, forward collision warning, lane departure prevention, rear cross-traffic alert, driver attention monitor, high beam assist and traffic sign recognition. Kristin Shaw, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for high beam

Word History

First Known Use

1932, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of high beam was in 1932

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“High beam.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/high%20beam. Accessed 16 May. 2026.

Kids Definition

high beam

noun
: a vehicle headlight beam aimed for long distances
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster