as in light
something that provides illumination
the floodlit skyscraper is one of the city's most beloved nighttime beacons
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
as in to illumine
to supply with light
a lone lighthouse beacons the entrance to the island's only harbor
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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.
Recent Examples of beacon
Anna Heim, Fortune, 5 Aug. 2025
Time your visit about 15 minutes before sunset to capture golden light beaming through the beacon’s windows, with the harbor glittering behind you.
—New York Times, 31 July 2025
Melissa Breyer, Treehugger, 27 Feb. 2023
In the meantime, January will beacon you into hermit mode, especially at the top of the month due to the Cancer full moon on Friday, January 6.
—Megan Spurrell, Condé Nast Traveler, 26 Dec. 2022
See All Example Sentences for beacon
Noun
Just below the arctic circle, Northvolt’s flagship battery factory once stood as a beacon of Europe’s ambitions to power its future with clean energy.
—Anna Heim, Fortune, 5 Aug. 2025
Time your visit about 15 minutes before sunset to capture golden light beaming through the beacon’s windows, with the harbor glittering behind you.
—New York Times, 31 July 2025
Verb
Growing underground with their luminous flowers beaconing through the soil, around 90 species of Thismia have been discovered.
—Melissa Breyer, Treehugger, 27 Feb. 2023
In the meantime, January will beacon you into hermit mode, especially at the top of the month due to the Cancer full moon on Friday, January 6.
—Megan Spurrell, Condé Nast Traveler, 26 Dec. 2022
See All Example Sentences for beacon
Recent Examples of Synonyms for beacon
Noun
-
On the first Friday under the lights of the Texas high school football stadium, Aledo fans donning the orange and black and packed the stands to see their Bearcats compete.—
Charles Baggarly,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
30 Aug. 2025
-
Remember how Detroit's Friday night lights began on a Thursday?—
Christian Romo,
Freep.com,
30 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Rev 21:10), an ark of salvation sailing through the waters of history and a beacon that illumines the dark nights of this world.—
Daniel Burke,
NPR,
9 May 2025
-
The lighting illumines each river in brilliantly bright backdrop colors.—
Mark Swed,
Los Angeles Times,
14 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
Small decorative touches like faceted glass lamps on the tables and woven textiles on each seat, many brought by Kastman directly from Turkey, infuse the space with texture, color and warmth.—
Rachel Bernhard,
jsonline.com,
29 Aug. 2025
-
An eye-catching fluting detail adds interest to the piece, which comes with a classic white linen lamp shade and is finished with warm gold hardware.—
Maggie Horton,
People.com,
26 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
During Diwali, homes are illuminated with small lanterns, a symbol of light overcoming darkness.—
Andrea Carbajal,
Glamour,
21 Aug. 2025
-
From the illuminating uptown skyline to the roar of professional sports venues, Charlotteans see a signature palette that tells a complex story of branding, history and civic pride.—
Shane Connuck,
Charlotte Observer,
19 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Remember, a tent offers no protection from lighting.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
28 Aug. 2025
-
Lighting Rideau also suggests changing out or adding decorative lighting.—
Monika Biegler Eyers,
Better Homes & Gardens,
27 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
The Elordi bathwater candle became a viral sensation that spawned many lusty memes.—
Zack Sharf,
Variety,
20 Aug. 2025
-
At one point, when the Dorf merges with another colony, candles, musical instruments, and dolls are added to the list of verboten items; Ruth’s mother replaces her doll with a knot of terry cloth in the middle of the night.—
Hillary Kelly,
The Atlantic,
20 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Beacon.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/beacon. Accessed 1 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share