as in light
something that provides illumination
the floodlit skyscraper is one of the city's most beloved nighttime beacons
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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
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Recent Examples of beacon
Bri Buckley, CBS News, 8 June 2026
Due to extremely spotty cell service, an emergency SOS beacon, like those made by Garmin, is also key.
—Robert Annis, Midwest Living, 7 June 2026
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
The light is still active, a beacon for boaters at night.
—Bri Buckley, CBS News, 8 June 2026
Due to extremely spotty cell service, an emergency SOS beacon, like those made by Garmin, is also key.
—Robert Annis, Midwest Living, 7 June 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
See All Example Sentences for beacon
Recent Examples of Synonyms for beacon
Noun
-
Under New York law, climbing a traffic-light pole or perching on its crossbars is a Class A misdemeanor punishable by up to a year in jail, a $1,000 fine, or both.—
Antonio Ferme,
Variety,
14 June 2026
-
The vaulted open-plan main room includes hardwood floors and a kitchen with open shelving, marble counters, and Viking appliances, plus a freestanding cone fireplace and a sky-light.—
The Week US,
TheWeek,
14 June 2026
Verb
-
Fantastic, illumined by periodic excursions into surrealism, as when the crew of a mysterious UFO boards a transpacific Kahuna Airlines jet midflight.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Apr. 2026
-
Geraldine walked over to Felix and Jane’s for fish soup, through long autumn shadows in the park, haze rising like smoke from the grass, illumined by the low sun.—
Tessa Hadley,
New Yorker,
25 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Rectangular lamps were fixed at regular intervals between the pillars, and green metal railings lined the gaps to keep people from falling into the water.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
11 June 2026
-
Sometimes the cords on your lamp, TV or power tools just won’t reach.—
Lew Sichelman,
Miami Herald,
11 June 2026
Verb
-
It should be displayed only from sunrise to sunset on buildings and on stationary flagstaffs in the open, but can be displayed 24 hours a day if properly illuminated at night, the flag code said.—
Don Sweeney,
Sacbee.com,
14 June 2026
-
Bernal donated the bulb to the fire department in 1901 to illuminate a hose cart house, where firefighters once hitched their horses to a trolley before riding out to battle fires.—
Kyle Martin,
Mercury News,
14 June 2026
Noun
-
Warm lighting enhances natural materials, brings out the richness of colors, and helps rooms feel more comfortable from dawn to dusk.—
Natasha Bazika,
Martha Stewart,
14 June 2026
-
There’s random rough-sawn wood on the kitchen ceiling, a deer head hanging in the living room, and different styles of lighting in every room.—
Clio Chang,
Curbed,
14 June 2026
Noun
-
Leo lit a candle and prayed at the tomb of Gaudí in the basilica’s crypt before the service, the highlight of Leo’s weeklong visit to Spain.—
Joseph Wilson,
Los Angeles Times,
10 June 2026
-
Without that step, even the most expensive candle is essentially fighting last night’s dinner.—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson,
Miami Herald,
10 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Beacon.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/beacon. Accessed 17 Jun. 2026.
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