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

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

There is the Lichtdom, or Cathedral of Light—more than a hundred searchlights beaming columns of light into the sky—creating an elevated sense of ceremony and import. — Literary Hub, 27 Apr. 2026

Kim Il-hyeok turned on a searchlight, and a South Korean Navy ship glided towards them. — Mike Valerio, CNN Money, 19 Apr. 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