the spotlight
noun
: public attention or notice
a baseball star who hates the spotlight
They're always in the spotlight.
School violence is once again under the media spotlight.
The news article turned/put the spotlight on the city's financial problems.
Examples of the spotlight in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Johnson had the spotlight, the following, the inevitability.
—
Nathan Canilao, Mercury News, 18 Apr. 2026
Four years ago, Democrat Stacey Abrams commanded the spotlight with her campaign for Georgia governor, dumping millions of dollars into the race as the media followed her every move.
—CBS News, 17 Apr. 2026
But a suddenly gimpy right hamstring stands between him and the spotlight right now.
—Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 17 Apr. 2026
Featuring exclusive performances, conversations, and one-night-only events, this series brings the film off the screen and into the spotlight — making each screening a cultural moment.
—Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 16 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for the spotlight
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Nathan Canilao, Mercury News, 18 Apr. 2026
Four years ago, Democrat Stacey Abrams commanded the spotlight with her campaign for Georgia governor, dumping millions of dollars into the race as the media followed her every move.
—CBS News, 17 Apr. 2026
But a suddenly gimpy right hamstring stands between him and the spotlight right now.
—Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 17 Apr. 2026
Featuring exclusive performances, conversations, and one-night-only events, this series brings the film off the screen and into the spotlight — making each screening a cultural moment.
—Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 16 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for the spotlight
Cite this Entry
“The spotlight.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/the%20spotlight. Accessed 21 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
