1
as in to shine
to emit rays of light
a lighthouse has beamed from this site since the 1790s
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 beam
Phil Plait, Scientific American, 6 Mar. 2026
Named after Austrian engineer Josef Melan, the design, which allowed for faster construction, incorporated arched steel beams supporting concrete arches that supported the bridge’s structure.
—IndyStar, 6 Mar. 2026
ABC News, 6 Mar. 2026
Inside, wood beamed ceilings and rustic stonework highlight the signature style of the region.
—Elly Leavitt, Vogue, 5 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for beam
Noun
The beams would be far brighter than the full moon and, even if carefully pointed, would scatter in the atmosphere to be very bright off-beam, disrupting wildlife and effectively destroying the sky’s remaining natural beauty by erasing the stars from our sight.
—Phil Plait, Scientific American, 6 Mar. 2026
Named after Austrian engineer Josef Melan, the design, which allowed for faster construction, incorporated arched steel beams supporting concrete arches that supported the bridge’s structure.
—IndyStar, 6 Mar. 2026
Verb
Airports across the country also beamed videos of Noem blaming Democrats for a federal government shutdown.
—ABC News, 6 Mar. 2026
Inside, wood beamed ceilings and rustic stonework highlight the signature style of the region.
—Elly Leavitt, Vogue, 5 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for beam
Recent Examples of Synonyms for beam
Noun
-
The machine scanned the skull using bright, nondestructive X-rays, generating over 9,000 high-resolution images and terabytes of data.—
Ashley Strickland,
CNN Money,
7 Mar. 2026
-
Ponta do Ouro's warm waters offer some of the best diving spots in Africa, with plenty of coral reefs, whale and reef sharks, turtles, dolphins, and rays—plus, great visibility, a real perk for underwater photographers.—
Melanie van Zyl,
Travel + Leisure,
6 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Dan shone his flashlight in the crags of a rock wall, and the antennae of hundreds of spiny lobsters waved in its beam.—
Betsy Andrews,
Condé Nast Traveler,
10 Mar. 2026
-
Nettspend’s music shines in its experimental corners, where the chaos briefly resolves into something more intentional.—
Jeff Ihaza,
Rolling Stone,
10 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
On the short walk from the changing rooms to the outdoor saunas — despite banya hats flying off and robes coming undone in the sub-30-degree weather — the sauna-goers were grinning.—
Alexa Mikhail,
Flow Space,
6 Mar. 2026
-
Mamdani emerged from this shroud of mystery triumphant, posting a photograph on X of himself, firmly straight-faced, standing alongside the grinning President.—
Molly Fischer,
New Yorker,
5 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
This hunch was borne out when the astronomers found that, even though the globular clusters were languishing in an empty stretch of Perseus, they were surrounded by a halo of glowing matter — a telltale sign of a galaxy.—
Frank Landymore,
Futurism,
5 Mar. 2026
-
Ahead, shop our favorite bronzers for mature skin that deliver warmth, depth, and glow.—
Christa Joanna Lee,
Allure,
5 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Visit an 80-foot-long smiling whale in Oklahoma.—
Zoey Goto,
Travel + Leisure,
8 Mar. 2026
-
But just as his monologue was getting off the ground, Gosling was surprised by audience member sitting up front — a casually dressed and smiling Harry Styles.—
Pat Saperstein,
Variety,
8 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
And the sketches made people laugh.—
Louisa Thomas,
New Yorker,
8 Mar. 2026
-
This World Premiere buddy comedy will warm your heart and leave you laughing long after the lanterns go out.—
Cincinnati Enquirer,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
7 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Beam.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/beam. Accessed 12 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
