limelight

noun lime·light \ ˈlīm-ˌlīt \

|Updated on: 15 Aug 2018

Definition of limelight

1 a : a stage lighting instrument producing illumination by means of an oxyhydrogen flame directed on a cylinder of lime and usually equipped with a lens to concentrate the light in a beam

b : the white light produced by such an instrument

c British : spotlight

2 : the center of public attention

See limelight defined for English-language learners

See limelight defined for kids

Examples of limelight in a Sentence

an actress who discovered that the limelight was not such a glowing experience when her privacy was invaded

Recent Examples of limelight from the Web

After over a decade in the limelight, Kylie Jenner knows that a celebrity's every social media post is dissected, analyzed, and ripped apart.

— refinery29.com, "Kylie Jenner's Father's Day Tribute To Caitlyn Jenner Faces Backlash," 18 June 2018
The episode revived worries in Trump's inner circle about Giuliani, who enjoys the media limelight and has a tendency to go off-script.

— jonathan lemire, chicagotribune.com, "As headlines swirl, Trump grows frustrated with Giuliani media blitz," 7 May 2018
The pensive Mr Müller, 64, rarely had the air of a man enjoying the limelight.

— The Economist, "The departure of the VW boss heralds a big shake-up," 12 Apr. 2018
One great skier, always prepared for the limelight, explaining defeat.

— tim layden, SI.com, "Lindsey Vonn Misses Podium, Czech Snowboarder Ester Ledecka Wins Stunning Gold in Super-G," 17 Feb. 2018
DeVos’ regulatory rollback agenda on for-profit colleges could draw her back into the limelight.

— NBC News, "DeVos agenda on higher education is a new front for Democratic resistance," 3 July 2018
Vivas also took charge of Quilmes and most recently, Defensa y Jusitica, but will now take up a more behind the scenes role at Atletico - unless of course, his infamous temperament catapults him back into the limelight.

— SI.com, "Atletico Madrid Appoint Nelson Vivas to Join Diego Simeone's Backroom Staff Ahead of 2018/19 Season," 22 May 2018
Who Is Arthur Chu? does a good job showing—especially for a former compliance analyst from Broadview Heights, Ohio, suddenly thrust into the limelight—how all-consuming social media can be.

— nathan mattise, Ars Technica, "Who Is Arthur Chu?: When Jeopardy ended, the real puzzles of online life began," 20 May 2018
With the attention of global soccer firmly focused on the World Cup semifinals in Russia, Cristiano Ronaldo on Tuesday dragged some of the limelight back on himself.

— joshua robinson, WSJ, "Cristiano Ronaldo to Join Italy’s Juventus in $117 Million Deal," 10 July 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'limelight.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.