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
Sofi Zeman, Kansas City Star, 5 Sep. 2025
Lost and found in Salt Lake City As pastor of Calvary Baptist Church, the largest African-American church in Utah, Davis and his congregants would become a beacon for so many of the displaced, those who had lost almost everything but their lives and possibly needed to find God.
—Suzette Hackney, USA Today, 5 Sep. 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
People can expect to see heavy equipment moving near 39th Street and Rainbow Boulevard throughout the next two years as crews construct a brand new cancer center that local medical leaders anticipate will be a national beacon for cancer research and treatment.
—Sofi Zeman, Kansas City Star, 5 Sep. 2025
Lost and found in Salt Lake City As pastor of Calvary Baptist Church, the largest African-American church in Utah, Davis and his congregants would become a beacon for so many of the displaced, those who had lost almost everything but their lives and possibly needed to find God.
—Suzette Hackney, USA Today, 5 Sep. 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
-
The body of the foreground object briefly blocks light from the star, as do any rings or satellites.—
Nola Taylor Tillman,
Space.com,
10 Sep. 2025
-
Lawrence Kenyon, who lives in Thompson's Station, raised several claims, including defamation, invasion of privacy by false light and intentional infliction of emotional distress.—
Evan Mealins,
The Tennessean,
10 Sep. 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
-
Emmet Apolinario, co-founder and president of Ohio Business Advisors, has sold everything from a licensed apparel shop for college sports to a disc golf retailer to a store that just sells lamp shades.—
Brandon Kochkodin,
Forbes.com,
13 Sep. 2025
-
Colorful murals adorn the interior, with communal tables and high ceilings, and the outdoors has beer-keg tables and heat lamps and lots of room for patrons — and their dogs — to roam.—
John Metcalfe,
Mercury News,
13 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The blend helps reduce the appearance of dark spots and illuminate the complexion in just a few weeks of consistent use.—
Akili King,
Vogue,
10 Sep. 2025
-
The slit lamp is a specialized microscope with a bright light that creates a thin, intense beam to illuminate the eye.—
Lindsay Curtis,
Health,
10 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Customers can wrap the truck’s exterior paneling in a color or print of their choosing, as well as customize lighting and tires, and even convert the two-passenger flat bed truck into a 5-person SUV.—
Jessica Mathews,
Fortune,
10 Sep. 2025
-
Candleholders and a modern candelabra lamp that reinterpret the Swedish tradition of lighting windows during the darker months.—
Elizabeth Fogarty,
Better Homes & Gardens,
9 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
The candle has four slow-burning wicks, is filled with a paraffin and soy wax blend, and burns for up to 22 hours.—
Stephanie Osmanski,
Better Homes & Gardens,
9 Sep. 2025
-
On the other hand, Will — played with a jagged sensitivity by Paul Mescal, making the most of his sad-eyed charisma and physical presence — is a guy who feels more at home at a desk, with only a candle to light his way through the treacherous creative process.—
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
8 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Beacon.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/beacon. Accessed 15 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share