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
Lewis Nunn, Forbes.com, 22 Jan. 2026
Shalom says the Avdija All-Star push has offered a beacon of light for those enduring a time of hardship.
—Jason Quick, New York Times, 21 Jan. 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
Rainbow crosswalks, legacy bars, and decades of activism have defined this iconic LGBTQ+ district—which has served as a beacon of pride and resistance since the 1970s.
—Lewis Nunn, Forbes.com, 22 Jan. 2026
Shalom says the Avdija All-Star push has offered a beacon of light for those enduring a time of hardship.
—Jason Quick, New York Times, 21 Jan. 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
-
The light of the day was fading.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
2 Feb. 2026
-
The light is red and the trees purple; the tarmac is warm beneath your bare feet.—
Molly Aitken,
New Yorker,
1 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
These fruits are tiny stars, planets in arm’s reach, little moons reddened by desire and cunning, the sun, at each step, illumines the petals of the dogwood flowers, their bright yellow is dimmed by no leaf, on their still-bare branches the first fissure in winter opens up by magic.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
19 May 2025
-
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
Noun
-
One barrier to entry for many has been the high cost of other strobing lamps like the Roxiva ($5,500) and Lucia ($35,000) or goggles like the NeuroVizr ($599), some of which also require a monthly subscription.—
Cortney Harding,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
-
The Louis lamp fashioned like an orb hanging from a triangle block or the Analog envisaged like a Lego brick or a block from Tetris are among some of its quirky pieces.—
Sofia Celeste,
Footwear News,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Once stationary, deactivate all lights except the hazard flashers, engage the emergency brake, and release the brake pedal to ensure your tail lights are not illuminated, reducing the risk of other drivers colliding with your stationary vehicle.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
26 Jan. 2026
-
Fireworks illuminated the pre-dawn sky, and then, characters waved us by.—
Kimberly Zapata,
Parents,
26 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Other defects ranged from below-code electrical wiring, lighting, fire protection and egress to stairs, sprinklers, fire caulking and emergency lighting.—
Frederick Melo,
Twin Cities,
1 Feb. 2026
-
Install Motion Sensor Lights Like most designers, Vandana Iyengar is a fan of mood lighting.—
Tessa Cooper,
The Spruce,
1 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The three-wick candle burns evenly for up to 40 hours.—
Isabel Garcia,
PEOPLE,
28 Jan. 2026
-
Pair it with a candle, a cozy robe, and your favorite playlist for the perfect Valentine’s Day gift for mom, friend or partner.—
Lanee Lee,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Beacon.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/beacon. Accessed 3 Feb. 2026.
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