spot·light
ˈspät-ˌlīt 
1
a
: a projected spot of light used to illuminate brilliantly a person, object, or group on a stage
b
: public notice or attention
held the political spotlight
2
a
: a light designed to direct a narrow intense beam of light on a small area
b
: something that illuminates brilliantly
spotlighted or spotlit; spotlighting
Synonyms
Examples of spotlight in a Sentence
Noun
They aimed the spotlight at the center of the stage.
A spotlight moved across the stage.
The actor stood in the spotlight.
a baseball star who hates the spotlight
They're always in the spotlight.
The news article turned the spotlight on the city's financial problems.
Verb
She was spotlighted as she sang her solo.
The news spotlighted the city's financial problems.
See More
Recent Examples on the Web
Ed Masley, The Arizona Republic, 7 Sep. 2023
The strikes have ground much of Hollywood to a halt and have shined a spotlight on a system that rewards some actors and writers richly – but which, union members say, leaves others scrapping to survive, especially as streaming has changed the way those creative professions are compensated.
—Luciana Lopez, CNN, 6 Sep. 2023
Sports Welcome to The Rewind, a weekly digest that puts a spotlight on the biggest stories and best performances from Alaska’s world of sports.
—Josh Reed, Anchorage Daily News, 5 Sep. 2023
The Canadian psychologist and professor first entered the public spotlight in 2016 by denouncing students at the University of Toronto who preferred to use gender-neutral pronouns.
—Miles Klee, Rolling Stone, 2 Sep. 2023
In Britain, the thefts — for which no one has been arrested — have led to intense news media scrutiny of the museum’s security procedures and put a spotlight on the museum’s poor record-keeping.
—Alex Marshall, New York Times, 1 Sep. 2023
San Pasqual Chairman Stephen Cope said that while slow internet speeds had been an issue on the reservation for years, the pandemic shined a spotlight on the problem.
—Lauren J. Mapp, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 Sep. 2023
Los Angeles Times As California public school districts explore policies around gender identity, the extent to which state law grants young people rights to privacy from their parents has come under a glaring spotlight.
—Ryan Fonseca, Los Angeles Times, 31 Aug. 2023
The war has thus shone a spotlight on the global South as a major factor in geopolitics.
—Sarang Shidore, Foreign Affairs, 31 Aug. 2023
Gary Trust, Billboard, 8 Sep. 2023
The report spotlights that LAX has competition from nearby Burbank, Long Beach, and other regional airports which help drive down the prices and increase the availability of deals.
—Michael Cappetta, Travel + Leisure, 8 Sep. 2023
The theater's free LAB Series at the Carmel Clay Public Library will spotlight readings on Oct. 14 and March 16, 2024, as well.
—The Indianapolis Star, 7 Sep. 2023
The problem has been spotlighted again and again in a 12-year-old class action lawsuit in which a federal judge has ruled that Texas runs a long-term foster care system that is unconstitutionally unsafe.
—Robert T. Garrett, Dallas News, 7 Sep. 2023
That means Max will essentially help market AMC+ for two months, with little risk of AMC losing current subscribers, since none of the seven series spotlighted in the pop-up will offer current seasons.
—Vulture, 28 Aug. 2023
The festival, which was hitherto focused on discovering Indian films and filmmakers, has pivoted to becoming one that spotlights South Asian talent, meaning films from India’s neighbors will also be showcased.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 25 Aug. 2023
Two days after being spotlighted during the first Republican presidential debate, Vivek Ramaswamy saw a surge of Iowans flock to his campaign stops in central Iowa ahead of the Jan. 15 caucuses.
—Philip Joens, USA TODAY, 29 Aug. 2023
Amid the heat and August sun beating down on hot, unused impervious parking lot surfaces at Northbrook Court, Northbrook village trustees hope to spotlight the shopping mall for rapid redevelopment.
—Karie Angell Luc, Chicago Tribune, 25 Aug. 2023
See More
Noun
Kevin Jonas doesn’t get that kind of vocal spotlight in the context of a Jonas Brothers show.
—Ed Masley, The Arizona Republic, 7 Sep. 2023
The strikes have ground much of Hollywood to a halt and have shined a spotlight on a system that rewards some actors and writers richly – but which, union members say, leaves others scrapping to survive, especially as streaming has changed the way those creative professions are compensated.
—Luciana Lopez, CNN, 6 Sep. 2023
Sports Welcome to The Rewind, a weekly digest that puts a spotlight on the biggest stories and best performances from Alaska’s world of sports.
—Josh Reed, Anchorage Daily News, 5 Sep. 2023
The Canadian psychologist and professor first entered the public spotlight in 2016 by denouncing students at the University of Toronto who preferred to use gender-neutral pronouns.
—Miles Klee, Rolling Stone, 2 Sep. 2023
In Britain, the thefts — for which no one has been arrested — have led to intense news media scrutiny of the museum’s security procedures and put a spotlight on the museum’s poor record-keeping.
—Alex Marshall, New York Times, 1 Sep. 2023
San Pasqual Chairman Stephen Cope said that while slow internet speeds had been an issue on the reservation for years, the pandemic shined a spotlight on the problem.
—Lauren J. Mapp, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 Sep. 2023
Los Angeles Times As California public school districts explore policies around gender identity, the extent to which state law grants young people rights to privacy from their parents has come under a glaring spotlight.
—Ryan Fonseca, Los Angeles Times, 31 Aug. 2023
The war has thus shone a spotlight on the global South as a major factor in geopolitics.
—Sarang Shidore, Foreign Affairs, 31 Aug. 2023
Verb
Adult Pop Airplay spotlights airplay on around 80 adult top 40 stations.
—Gary Trust, Billboard, 8 Sep. 2023
The report spotlights that LAX has competition from nearby Burbank, Long Beach, and other regional airports which help drive down the prices and increase the availability of deals.
—Michael Cappetta, Travel + Leisure, 8 Sep. 2023
The theater's free LAB Series at the Carmel Clay Public Library will spotlight readings on Oct. 14 and March 16, 2024, as well.
—The Indianapolis Star, 7 Sep. 2023
The problem has been spotlighted again and again in a 12-year-old class action lawsuit in which a federal judge has ruled that Texas runs a long-term foster care system that is unconstitutionally unsafe.
—Robert T. Garrett, Dallas News, 7 Sep. 2023
That means Max will essentially help market AMC+ for two months, with little risk of AMC losing current subscribers, since none of the seven series spotlighted in the pop-up will offer current seasons.
—Vulture, 28 Aug. 2023
The festival, which was hitherto focused on discovering Indian films and filmmakers, has pivoted to becoming one that spotlights South Asian talent, meaning films from India’s neighbors will also be showcased.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 25 Aug. 2023
Two days after being spotlighted during the first Republican presidential debate, Vivek Ramaswamy saw a surge of Iowans flock to his campaign stops in central Iowa ahead of the Jan. 15 caucuses.
—Philip Joens, USA TODAY, 29 Aug. 2023
Amid the heat and August sun beating down on hot, unused impervious parking lot surfaces at Northbrook Court, Northbrook village trustees hope to spotlight the shopping mall for rapid redevelopment.
—Karie Angell Luc, Chicago Tribune, 25 Aug. 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'spotlight.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Phrases Containing spotlight
Dictionary Entries Near spotlight
Cite this Entry
“Spotlight.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/spotlight. Accessed 22 Sep. 2023.
Copy Citation
Kids Definition
spotlight
1 of 2 noun
spot·light
ˈspät-ˌlīt
1
a
: a spot of light used to light up a particular area, person, or thing (as on a stage)
b
: public notice
2
: a light designed to direct a narrow strong beam of light on a small area
spotlight
2 of 2 verb
spotlighted or spotlit; spotlighting
1
: to light up with a spotlight
2
: to bring to public attention
More from Merriam-Webster on spotlight
Nglish: Translation of spotlight for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of spotlight for Arabic Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about spotlight
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share