Illustration of lighthouse
- lighthouse 1
lighthouse
noun
light·house
ˈlīt-ˌhau̇s 
1
: a structure (such as a tower) with a powerful light that gives a continuous or intermittent signal to navigators
2
Examples of lighthouse in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The shoreline was preserved, and the lighthouse fully restored and opened to the public.
—
Dorothy Wickenden, The New Yorker, 30 Oct. 2023
The musical, in which a detective investigates the murder of a woman in a lighthouse that was only witnessed by her infant triplets, is meant to salvage the show, and his career.
—Caitlin Huston, The Hollywood Reporter, 4 Oct. 2023
All the emotion at the start of the contest — with the appearance of Tom Brady near the top of the lighthouse and the wild weather — was drained from the stadium.
—Christopher Price, BostonGlobe.com, 10 Sep. 2023
Two historic lighthouses rise above the sand and tree lines, Bodie Island Lighthouse near Oregon Inlet and the Currituck Beach Lighthouse about 42 miles northward, not far from the sands where wild horses roam.
—Southern Living Editors, Southern Living, 10 Oct. 2023
The lighthouse is active as a Coast Guard aid to navigation.
—Patrick Whittle, Fortune, 11 Sep. 2023
The route continues past lighthouses and beach villages for some 148 miles—requiring two ferry rides to complete—and culminates on the northernmost Currituck Banks, where the oceanfront is traversed by four-wheel drive trucks and wild horses.
—Southern Living Editors, Southern Living, 10 Oct. 2023
The lighthouse was open to the public as part of Maine Open Lighthouse Day, which is a day when the state’s scenic lighthouses are open to the public.
—Patrick Whittle, Fortune, 11 Sep. 2023
Travelers drawn to the nostalgic allure of lighthouses shouldn't miss its lighthouses: the 40 Mile Point Lighthouse, the Old Presque Isle Lighthouse, and the New Presque Isle Lighthouse built between 1840 and 1896.
—Dobrina Zhekova, Travel + Leisure, 30 Aug. 2023
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Dorothy Wickenden, The New Yorker, 30 Oct. 2023
The musical, in which a detective investigates the murder of a woman in a lighthouse that was only witnessed by her infant triplets, is meant to salvage the show, and his career.
—Caitlin Huston, The Hollywood Reporter, 4 Oct. 2023
All the emotion at the start of the contest — with the appearance of Tom Brady near the top of the lighthouse and the wild weather — was drained from the stadium.
—Christopher Price, BostonGlobe.com, 10 Sep. 2023
Two historic lighthouses rise above the sand and tree lines, Bodie Island Lighthouse near Oregon Inlet and the Currituck Beach Lighthouse about 42 miles northward, not far from the sands where wild horses roam.
—Southern Living Editors, Southern Living, 10 Oct. 2023
The lighthouse is active as a Coast Guard aid to navigation.
—Patrick Whittle, Fortune, 11 Sep. 2023
The route continues past lighthouses and beach villages for some 148 miles—requiring two ferry rides to complete—and culminates on the northernmost Currituck Banks, where the oceanfront is traversed by four-wheel drive trucks and wild horses.
—Southern Living Editors, Southern Living, 10 Oct. 2023
The lighthouse was open to the public as part of Maine Open Lighthouse Day, which is a day when the state’s scenic lighthouses are open to the public.
—Patrick Whittle, Fortune, 11 Sep. 2023
Travelers drawn to the nostalgic allure of lighthouses shouldn't miss its lighthouses: the 40 Mile Point Lighthouse, the Old Presque Isle Lighthouse, and the New Presque Isle Lighthouse built between 1840 and 1896.
—Dobrina Zhekova, Travel + Leisure, 30 Aug. 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'lighthouse.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1606, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Dictionary Entries Near lighthouse
Cite this Entry
“Lighthouse.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lighthouse. Accessed 30 Nov. 2023.
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Kids Definition
lighthouse
noun
light·house
-ˌhau̇s
: a tower with a powerful light at the top that is built on or near the shore to guide sailors at night
More from Merriam-Webster on lighthouse
Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for lighthouse
Nglish: Translation of lighthouse for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of lighthouse for Arabic Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about lighthouse
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