searchlight

noun search·light \ ˈsərch-ˌlīt \

|Updated on: 8 Jul 2018

Definition of searchlight

: an apparatus for projecting a powerful beam of light; also : a beam of light projected by it

See searchlight defined for English-language learners

Recent Examples of searchlight from the Web

The water beneath Portland’s southernmost bridge was now cut by rescue boats, lit by searchlights, beaten by helicopters, the river’s banks trampled by police and residents who could not or did not want to go back to sleep.

— nancy rommelmann, Good Housekeeping, "Amanda Stott-Smith Was a Loving Mother of 3. So Why Did She Try to Murder Her 2 Youngest Kids?," 29 June 2018
But the searchlights also allowed the American gunners to see their adversaries.

— gary kamiya, San Francisco Chronicle, "How SF’s namesake ship survived a World War II ‘suicide’ mission," 9 June 2018
Across the English Channel, more than 640,000 British women served in auxiliary services, performing noncombat work such as handling massive searchlights to spot enemy aircraft intent on bombing British cities.

— sarah betancourt, The Christian Science Monitor, "From paranurses to snipers: Exhibit focuses on women's WWII contributions," 25 May 2018
Across the English Channel, more than 640,000 British women served in auxiliary services, performing noncombat work such as handling massive searchlights to spot enemy aircraft intent on bombing British cities.

— Washington Post, "From snipers to moms: World War II exhibit focuses on women," 25 May 2018
Two decades ago, helicopter searchlights swept the streets outside Mr. Anwar’s Kuala Lumpur home as police moved in to arrest him, and his wife pleaded to Mr. Mahathir for mercy.

— james hookway, WSJ, "Best Frenemies: Anwar Ibrahim’s Release Rekindles an Old Malaysian Rivalry," 16 May 2018
Event Series Beach Lights: Watch the boardwalk light up different colors as searchlights move and sway to the beat of music.

— baltimoresun.com, "Ocean City 2018 calendar of events," 11 May 2018
There are jetty lights, shiplights, brass lanterns, searchlights, deck lights plus porthole windows, a waterwheel in the yard and plenty of places to sit on the dock of the bay.

— janet eastman, OregonLive.com, "Heir of boat-shaped house, long on the market, drops anchor, waits for a buyer (photos)," 30 Apr. 2018
Authorities converged on that spot while the helicopter scanned the area with a searchlight so Schwartz would have to stop moving, according to the sheriff’s office.

— jared gilmour, sacbee, "Inmate escaped 2 days into a 4-day sentence. Freedom was short-lived, deputies say | The Sacramento Bee," 30 Apr. 2018

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

First Known Use of searchlight

1883

in the meaning defined above

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SEARCHLIGHT Defined for English Language Learners

searchlight

noun

Definition of searchlight for English Language Learners

: a very bright light that can be aimed in different directions and that is used to find people or things in the dark

SEARCHLIGHT Defined for Kids

searchlight

noun search·light \ ˈsərch-ˌlīt \

Definition of searchlight for Students

: a lamp for sending a beam of bright light

Learn More about searchlight

See words that rhyme with searchlight Spanish Central: Translation of searchlight Nglish: Translation of searchlight for Spanish speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about searchlight

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