Synonyms of beacon

beacon 1 of 2

noun

ˈbē-kən 

as in light

something that provides illumination

the floodlit skyscraper is one of the city's most beloved nighttime beacons

Synonyms & Similar Words

• light
• lamp
• lighting
• candle
• flashlight
• headlight
• illuminant
• lighthouse
• lantern
• floodlight
• electric
• spotlight
• chandelier
• streetlight
• arc lamp
• light bulb
• fluorescent lamp
• flashbulb
• incandescent lamp
• candelabra
• gaslight
• candelabrum
• flare
• sconce
• flash
• sun lamp
• klieg light
• flashcube
• dark lantern
• gasolier
• girandole

beacon

2 of 2

verb

as in to illumine

to supply with light

a lone lighthouse beacons the entrance to the island's only harbor

Synonyms & Similar Words

• illumine
• illuminate
• light
• brighten
• irradiate
• lighten
• beam
• bathe
• illume
• glow
• shine
• beat (down)
• emblaze
• highlight
• radiate
• blind
• floodlight
• spotlight
• ignite
• halo
• gleam
• glisten
• kindle
• dazzle
• flame
• glare
• glitter
• blaze
• enhalo
• incinerate
• fire
• burn
• daze
• bedazzle

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• dim
• dull
• obscure
• darken
• veil
• cover
• blacken
• obfuscate
• extinguish
• put out
• quench
• shroud
• douse
• snuff (out)

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of beacon

Noun

During these sleep periods, New Horizons remains in a largely unpowered but stable mode, while its flight computer keeps close tabs on the spacecraft’s condition and sends back a weekly beacon to flight controllers. — Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 16 July 2026

The Capitals are a true beacon of what a proper retool should look like. — Dom Luszczyszyn, New York Times, 16 July 2026

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