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
Many users noted that Gibson is not exactly a beacon of historical accuracy with his films like Braveheart, Apocalypto, The Patriot, The Passion of the Christ and more. — Paul Tassi, Forbes.com, 22 July 2026 For the moderator — who has become a bit disillusioned by the transformation of the subreddit — posts like Haapala’s, celebrating their job offer on the subreddit, are a beacon of light. — William Melhado, Sacbee.com, 21 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 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
  • As the balloon rose into the evening sky, riders could look out across the gardens while the setting sun covered the landscape in warm light.
    — Sophia Buonpane, Kansas City Star, 1 Aug. 2026
  • Plants and animals keenly sense the diminishing light, which acts as a master biological clock that triggers changes such as migration, shifting hormone levels and winter coat growth.
    — Charles Seabrook, AJC.com, 1 Aug. 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
  • At the rear, bullet-style LED indicators double as brake and tail lights, allowing a logoed blanking plate to clean up the tail section where a central tail lamp normally mounts.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 30 July 2026
  • Source vintage lamps and pendants to banish builder-grade light fixtures and furnish your home with character-rich desks and tables.
    — Sarah Lyon, The Spruce, 30 July 2026
Definition of lamp
Verb
  • The Plant Humanities Initiative at Dumbarton Oaks seeks to explore histories like this one, illuminating the many ways that plants and people have shaped each other across time and place.
    — Kari Traylor, JSTOR Daily, 29 July 2026
  • The artists here illuminate the ways every one of us is indebted to others.
    — Emily Watlington, ARTnews.com, 29 July 2026
Definition of illuminate
Noun
  • Hürrem’s marble, lighting, architecture and historical narrative serves as more than design.
    — Lilian Raji, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026
  • With better lighting, and a home that did not fill up with mud and water during every monsoon, her children began to perform well in school.
    — Kamala Thiagarajan, NPR, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of lighting
Noun
  • Later, the hotel turns this scent into a candle and includes a card with the ingredients and the date it was made.
    — Jim Dobson, Forbes.com, 25 July 2026
  • Its generous 12-inch length offers plenty of room for bathroom accessories, from rolled up washcloths to your favorite antique candle holder.
    — Nina Derwin, Architectural Digest, 24 July 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 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on beacon

Nglish: Translation of beacon for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about beacon

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