beams 1 of 2

Definition of beamsnext
plural of beam
as in rays
a narrow sharply defined line of light radiating from an object we'll need a flashlight that casts a broader beam in order to really see anything

Synonyms & Similar Words

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beams

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of beam

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 beams
Noun
While the space itself, clad in bricks and steel beams, feels historic, its state-of-the-art sound system churns out high-quality sounds for your night on the dance floor. Matt Kirouac, Travel + Leisure, 29 Jan. 2026 Players also gain access to fire, electric and ice beams that are needed to bypass obstacles and handle the weak points of certain enemies. Gieson Cacho, Mercury News, 28 Jan. 2026 The natural wood ceiling beams are carried through to the kitchen island for a cohesive look. Farima Ferguson, The Spruce, 28 Jan. 2026 Some sat remarkably untouched, but most were damaged beyond repair — crushed by falling beams, burned to a shell, and covered in toxic dust. Marah Eakin, Los Angeles Times, 26 Jan. 2026 When space allows, wood beams above your kitchen cabinets are a transformative design element that instantly lends some architectural interest alongside warmth and texture. Wendy Rose Gould, Martha Stewart, 25 Jan. 2026 That sense of time is evident in the giant wooden beams that curve around the apartment’s ceiling, though those beams are about the only thing here that feel old. Madeline Weinfield, Architectural Digest, 23 Jan. 2026 The rooms Choose from 28 luxury homes that are thoughtfully curated to display a refined take on Western lodge living—here, rustic elegance meets upscale comfort with timber beams, stone fireplaces, and rich Western-chic decor. Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Jan. 2026 The same exception applies for flashing high-beams at other drivers. Cailey Gleeson, jsonline.com, 21 Jan. 2026
Verb
The room beams casual charm — plants, light woods, abstract prints on the wall to add color, a communal table and a toddler-size rocking chair among a couple Eames-style loungers — and couldn’t hold many more people. Bill Addison, Los Angeles Times, 31 Jan. 2026 The characters’ spoken language is unfamiliar, but passionate, and the performances are driven by pure intent that beams through their heavy prosthetics. Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 27 Jan. 2026 The same cousin now beams about ChatGPT. Literary Hub, 24 Nov. 2025 This imager beams a monochrome green image directly to your eye, with a level of light dim enough to be safe but bright enough to be seen against ambient light. IEEE Spectrum, 13 Nov. 2025 This estimates the bike's position and mass in real time, and beams that to the rider aids for more precise cornering ABS and wheelie control intervention so the bike can hold a tight line. Abhimanyu Ghoshal, New Atlas, 8 Oct. 2025 Someone who beams when an expert tastes her homemade apple butter and genuinely enjoys it. Erin Hill, People.com, 28 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for beams
Noun
  • That runs counter to decades of assumptions about Chondrichthyan fishes, the group that includes sharks, rays, skates and chimaeras.
    Melissa Cristina Márquez, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
  • In the morning, make sure to follow up with a face sunscreen to protect the skin from harmful UV rays.
    Ariana Yaptangco, Glamour, 28 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • This series shines by showing Black life in an unfiltered way.
    Lynnette Nicholas, Parents, 30 Jan. 2026
  • Cabernet Sauvignon, however, is where Lake County truly shines.
    Liz Thach, Forbes.com, 30 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • Ryan grins down, then kisses him.
    Natalia Winkelman, IndieWire, 24 Jan. 2026
  • This was an emotional and physical meat grinder of a contest, though the first-year Hornets mentor was all grins afterward.
    Joe Davidson, Sacbee.com, 18 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • The video shared on Instagram shows vehicles parked on the Margaret McDermott Bridge as the countdown at Reunion Tower glows in the background.
    Timia Cobb Breaking News Reporter, Dallas Morning News, 29 Jan. 2026
  • To complete the warm golden hues, the automatic movement is topped with a 22-karat gold rotor, which glows through the caseback.
    Carol Besler, Forbes.com, 20 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • Throughout the compilation of clips, Kristy smiles and smolders in the mirror while using a bottle of the luxury brand's Libre Berry Crush perfume.
    Zoey Lyttle, PEOPLE, 27 Jan. 2026
  • The cheerful doorman smiles warmly and helps you with your things.
    Forbes Travel Guide, Forbes.com, 26 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • Nahmias turned 33 on January 7; and while many other Millennials—the generation of the overwhelmed and overstimulated—would show frustration with the noise, Nahmias laughs it off.
    José Criales-Unzueta, Vanity Fair, 20 Jan. 2026
  • At 25 years old, Gerard laughs about becoming one of the veterans on Team USA and in the broader snowboarding community.
    Sean Neumann, PEOPLE, 14 Jan. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Beams.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/beams. Accessed 3 Feb. 2026.

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