searchlight

noun

search·​light ˈsərch-ˌlīt 

: an apparatus for projecting a powerful beam of light

also : a beam of light projected by it

Examples of searchlight in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

In Paris on Monday night, a police helicopter circled over Place de la Republique overnight, a central point in the weekend clashes, sweeping the square with a searchlight to check that the curfew was being observed. — Tom Nouvian, Los Angeles Times, 20 Oct. 2026

Early automotive lamps were less like searchlights and more like dim lanterns politely suggesting that there may or may not be a vehicle present. — Matthew MacConnell, ArsTechnica, 3 Aug. 2026

The design team says that the columns outside of the terminal mimic Hollywood premiere searchlights, and the arrival to all gates leads into a large common area that will feature three bar tops and local restaurants and shops. — Hunter Sowards, CBS News, 29 July 2026

The difficulty is preparing for the unknowable when AI acts like a searchlight sweeping across combinations no human would ever have time to explore and test. — Denis Mandich, Forbes.com, 8 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1883, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for searchlight

• affright
• airtight
• albite
• alight
• alright
• aplite
• aright
• bainite
• birthright
• bobwhite
• bornite
• bullfight

Kids Definition

searchlight

noun

search·​light ˈsərch-ˌlīt 

: a device for casting a beam of light

also : a beam of light cast by it