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

Remembrances extended far from the attack sites, including beams of light projected from New Hampshire's Mount Washington, a stair climb at Mississippi State University's football stadium and a ceremony at Honolulu's 9/11 memorial. — Arkansas Online, 12 Sep. 2026

Although the buildings have gotten taller over the years, the essential tool of the trade — a spud wrench that every ironworker carries on his belt to tighten the bolts that hold the beams together — has not changed in fifty years. — Jeff Goodell, Rolling Stone, 11 Sep. 2026

Concrete floors over those beams could support rows of grand pianos. — Adriane Quinlan, Curbed, 11 Sep. 2026

Cyndi Lauper, Lainey Wilson and John Ondrasik of Five for Fighting will perform from the base of the installation’s beams. — Erin Lassner, HollywoodReporter, 11 Sep. 2026

The two-story tract home had been stripped down to slats and beams. — Sarah Shanfield, Vulture, 11 Sep. 2026

In renovating the space, Leandro leaned into its historic texture, exposing brick walls and the charred wood beams in the family room, and stripping off drywall to reveal the original ceiling structure on the upper floor. — Ingrid Abramovitch, Architectural Digest, 10 Sep. 2026

From a site near the 9/11 Memorial & Museum, 88 powerful blue lights project twin beams up to four miles into the sky, recreating the silhouette of the Twin Towers. — Greta Cross, USA Today, 10 Sep. 2026

The craftsmanship of coconut fiber roof beams and thatch work. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 9 Sep. 2026

Verb

The sun beams down as Karen Sterling waits in line for a Talarico rally in Lockhardt on July 28. — Eleanor Dearman updated August 29, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 Aug. 2026

Inside Billy’s private movie theater, the projector beams down on the back of Anderson’s head like that infamous Nicole Kidman AMC promo. — Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 6 Aug. 2026

Starlink beams down broadband to consumers, governments and businesses using more than 10,000 satellites orbiting close above the Earth. — Bloomberg, Mercury News, 5 Aug. 2026

SpaceX has told European officials that the proposal threatens to worsen Starlink Mobile service, which beams data to phones, including those in Ukraine. — Michael Kan, PC Magazine, 29 July 2026

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

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