beacon 1 of 2

noun

ˈbē-kən How to pronounce beacon (audio)
Definition of beaconnext
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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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

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
Noun
What readers are saying The comments express overwhelming joy and relief at the positive news regarding Pope Leo's health, highlighting his importance as a religious leader and a beacon of peace and justice. — Anthony Faiola, Washington Post, 21 Oct. 2026 Model Sunday Rose’s vibrant Louis Vuitton look (select Louis Vuitton boutiques) is a beacon in the fog. — Heidi Julavits, Vogue, 20 Oct. 2026
Verb
In its early years, it was located smack in the middle of the grounds, a beaconing festival-goers with beats, cirque performances and the all-important misters. — Mikael Wood, Los Angeles Times, 14 Apr. 2024 Growing underground with their luminous flowers beaconing through the soil, around 90 species of Thismia have been discovered. — Melissa Breyer, Treehugger, 27 Feb. 2023 See All Example Sentences for beacon
Recent Examples of Synonyms for beacon
  1. light
  2. illumine
  3. lamp
  4. illuminate
  5. lighting
  6. candle
Noun
  • Like Blonde on Blonde, Drukqs was the prolonged exhalation that closed its maker’s years as a celebrity at the vanguard of a genre and inaugurated a long period of reflection and tinkering away from the light of public expectation.
    — Andy Cush, Pitchfork, 31 Oct. 2026
  • And try to get as much exposure to morning light as possible throughout the season.
    — Jackie Flynn Mogensen, Scientific American, 31 Oct. 2026
Definition of light
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
Definition of illumine
Noun
  • New York studio Wretched Flowers uses chainmail as decorative veils over walls, lamps and windows (Jessica Alba is a fan).
    — Francesca Perry, Vogue, 29 Oct. 2026
  • There’s a Fortuny silk pendant lamp in the coffee corner overlooking the backyard, custom green ceramic tile, new crown molding and the original wood floors, which Akey painted in a Harlequin pattern.
    — Lisa Boone, Los Angeles Times, 28 Oct. 2026
Definition of lamp
Verb
  • Like a glass of brut champagne illuminated by a flash of lightning on a November night!
    — Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 28 Oct. 2026
  • Photographed by Mert Alas, the campaign captures Shayk in the warmth of golden hour, illuminated by reflective light.
    — Lisa Lockwood, Footwear News, 28 Oct. 2026
Definition of illuminate
Noun
  • The interior is designed to match, and far from recycling bright, beachy tropes, instead opts for subtler period antiques, oversized tubs, dark wood floors, and brass lighting fixtures.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Oct. 2026
  • String lights, solar lanterns, warm-toned bulbs and candle lanterns handle the lighting.
    — Lauren Schuster, Miami Herald, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of lighting
Noun
  • Add books, a vase or a candle to make the seating area look more polished.
    — Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Charlotte Observer, 23 Oct. 2026
  • String lights, solar lanterns, warm-toned bulbs and candle lanterns handle the lighting.
    — Lauren Schuster, Miami Herald, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of candle

Browse Nearby Words

beachside
beacon
beaconed
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Beacon.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/beacon. Accessed 2 Nov. 2026.

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Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about beacon

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