Synonyms of beams

beams 1 of 2

noun

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

• rays
• shafts
• sunbeams
• lasers
• spotlights
• moonbeams
• sunbursts

beams

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of beam

1

as in shines

to emit rays of light

a lighthouse has beamed from this site since the 1790s

Synonyms & Similar Words

• shines
• rays
• glows
• flashes
• radiates
• gleams
• flares
• flickers
• flames
• lights
• shimmers
• glimmers
• glitters
• illumines
• burns
• sparkles
• glistens
• twinkles
• fires
• glints
• blazes
• beats (down)
• glares
• illuminates
• luminesces
• irradiates
• winks
• spangles
• scintillates
• lightens
• blinds
• sheens
• brightens
• blinks
• glisters
• lusters
• dazzles
• winkles
• coruscates
• bedazzles
• dazes

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• darkens
• lowers
• blackens

2

as in grins

to express an emotion (as amusement) by curving the lips upward

my father beamed when I showed him my new car

Synonyms & Similar Words

• grins
• smiles
• laughs
• smirks
• sneers
• simpers

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• grimaces
• glares
• frowns
• scowls
• lowers
• glowers
• glooms
• pouts
• sulks

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of beams

Noun

In Galecki’s home, wood beams and columns recall its log cabin roots. — Ryan Brennan, Charlotte Observer, 24 July 2026

The machine fires X-ray beams at a subject, then uses a specialized camera to record how a bone absorbs the beams based on density. — Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 23 July 2026

This is effective because microwaves can cover whole areas at a time, and the beams travel at the speed of light, which is an obvious advantage. — David Szondy july 23, New Atlas, 23 July 2026

As visitors spend time in the gallery, beams of light emerge through seven bullet holes scattered across the hull. — Michelle F. Solomon, Miami Herald, 21 July 2026

Outside of learning about ancient concentration camps and historic serial killers while Phaedra beams, the moment without Porsha serves as a Hail Mary pass for Shamea to try to salvage some of the damage from the night before. — Ile-Ife Okantah, Vulture, 20 July 2026

Instead of shaping structures one at a time with focused ion beams, the method uses a broad ion beam to transform thousands of 2D nanostructures into 3D designs simultaneously. — Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 19 July 2026

All have the particular quirks – wooden beams or quaint tiny windows – of a centuries-old property. — Jonathan Samuels, TheWeek, 17 July 2026

As a result, Icelandic house-plans had to use a minimum of wood—just a few posts and roof beams. — Amelia Soth, JSTOR Daily, 15 July 2026

Verb

Octavia Spencer beams from ear to ear at the Ride Or Die special screening in London on June 22. — Brendan Le, PEOPLE, 25 June 2026

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

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