beams 1 of 2

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
One was a rotating disc that sent out beams of light. ABC News, 12 June 2026 The interior measures 420 sq ft (39 sq m) and is finished in shiplap and drywall, with a tongue-and-groove feature wall and exposed timber beams, which are a nice touch. New Atlas, 10 June 2026 John Lithgow beams with pride after winning Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Play for Giant during the 79th annual Tony Awards on June 7 in New York City. Brendan Le, PEOPLE, 10 June 2026 Nearly every inch of the coaster track is visible from the queue that winds underneath the steel support beams and along the edge of the hillside stretching between the Upper and Lower Lots. Brady MacDonald, Oc Register, 8 June 2026 The apartment has exposed brick walls, 10-foot ceiling beams of old-growth pine, oak floors, oversize windows, a fireplace, and a chef’s kitchen with Thermidor appliances and thick stone counters. The Week Us, TheWeek, 8 June 2026 Researchers also confirmed the antenna could split beams between multiple users with minimal signal degradation. Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 8 June 2026 This Boston kitchen is both refined and homey with original wood beams, white slab-style kitchen cabinets, and gray countertops. Lauren Jones, The Spruce, 6 June 2026 Expect exposed timber beams, original brick and sandstone, Tasmanian artwork, and peeks of original wallpaper. Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 27 May 2026
Verb
Footage of giant yellow black-eyed Susan flowers beams onto the wall from one projector, intersecting with video of swaying plants from another. Solvej Schou, Los Angeles Times, 27 May 2026 Einbinder looks lovingly over at her costar, who beams back at her. David Fear, Rolling Stone, 20 May 2026 Wade beams as his children describe their meal. Andy Rose, CNN Money, 6 Apr. 2026 Nicholas Hoult beams with his bleached hair and Prada button-up courtside at the Lakers versus Cleveland Cavaliers game in Los Angeles on March 31. Escher Walcott, PEOPLE, 4 Apr. 2026 Now there’s Hoppers, the latest blockbuster Pixar film, which follows a girl who beams her brain into a beaver robot in the hope of saving a beloved habitat. David Sims, The Atlantic, 26 Mar. 2026 Based on research from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the device beams patients with gamma frequency light and sound for an hour a day. Mario Aguilar, STAT, 5 Mar. 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for beams
Noun
  • Ultraviolet radiation falls on the electromagnetic spectrum between X-rays and visible light.
    Kff Health News, Oc Register, 10 June 2026
  • If little red dots are rapidly accreting supermassive black holes shrouded by dense gas envelopes, this would explain why these mystery objects are so faint in X-rays, as these cocoons should absorb this high-energy radiation.
    Robert Lea, Space.com, 10 June 2026
Verb
  • But her keen eye for detail also shines in festive settings.
    Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 10 Dec. 2025
  • Even off the carpet, her style shines.
    Mecca Pryor, Essence, 10 Dec. 2025
Verb
  • Fatima grins, before rejoining the rest of the girls' team for one-on-one drills.
    Jasmine Garsd, NPR, 16 June 2026
  • The suspect in a stabbing in Edinburgh, Scotland, grins out a window before his arrest, March 2, 2026.
    Lindsay Quella, CBS News, 2 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • His writing glows with his obvious love of plants and animals, not least his faithful dog, Roger.
    Rachel Syme, New Yorker, 10 June 2026
  • Because of the black hole's immense gravitational forces, an AGN glows very brightly.
    Robert Lea, Space.com, 8 June 2026
Verb
  • İmamoğlu appears at the end and smiles silently.
    Kaya Genç, The Dial, 9 June 2026
  • Maddy smiles when that happens.
    Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 1 June 2026
Verb
  • But give me a beautiful suit and an audience that laughs at my jokes.
    Michael Schneider, Variety, 15 June 2026
  • Amy Adams laughs onstage during her appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon in New York City on June 8.
    Brendan Le, PEOPLE, 11 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Beams.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/beams. Accessed 18 Jun. 2026.

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