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
Western automakers have spent years trickling pixel-headlight features out cautiously, partly because regulations in markets like the US have historically been slow to allow adaptive driving beams in the first place. New Atlas, 15 May 2026 The house has been preserved to highlight some of the more old-world aspects—spot wood beams, stone floors, and aqua window frames in nearly every room—for a taste of traditional Cycladic style. Elly Leavitt, Vogue, 14 May 2026 And on the ground, where atmospheric interference can make sending data via optical beams trickier, Google’s Taara subsidiary has developed a compact silicon-photonics chipset that can support up to 25Gbps data transfers as far as 12 miles. Rob Pegoraro, PC Magazine, 14 May 2026 Such opportunistic eavesdropping is challenging, because Starlink is consistently optimizing for its primary satellite Internet service by turning beams on and off, or sometimes switching beams as the fast-moving satellites talk to many different users, Kassas explained. Andrew Cunningham, ArsTechnica, 11 May 2026 Otherside Objects founder Sam Klemick did just this in her 495-square-foot Los Angeles studio, expertly putting the ceiling beams to use and drawing the eye upward to expand the scale. Rachel Davies, Architectural Digest, 11 May 2026 The hardwood floors throughout are nicely maintained with thin beams and decorative borders. Katie McDonough, Curbed, 11 May 2026 Sarah Chalke beams in a little white dress outside ABC Studios in New York City on May 7. People Staff, PEOPLE, 11 May 2026 The first step involves getting 10 million pounds of steel beams underground through a 20-foot-wide shaft—and that only covers the first container. Joseph Howlett, Scientific American, 8 May 2026
Verb
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 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for beams
Noun
  • According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, SPF 30 blocks about 97 percent of the sun’s rays, so using a lower SPF than that offers less protection.
    Abby Dupes, StyleCaster, 13 May 2026
  • The suit notes that wood, dirt and pine needles generally do not show up on X-rays.
    Minyvonne Burke, NBC news, 12 May 2026
Verb
  • Jennifer Lopez shimmers and shines in a pale pink gown at the 2026 Netflix Upfront presentation in New York City on May 13.
    People Staff, PEOPLE, 15 May 2026
  • After the bell, the spotlight shines on Nvidia.
    Alexa LoMonaco, CNBC, 15 May 2026
Verb
  • Attenborough grins, laughs and is speechless with delight.
    ABC News, ABC News, 8 May 2026
  • Wells, hidden in a tiny video-village setup inside one of the set’s curtained exam rooms, grins at the monitor and turns around to give Einesman a thumbs-up.
    Kathryn VanArendonk, Vulture, 17 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Below, sits Altair, while Deneb glows to the left, representing the tail of the great swan in the constellation Cygnus.
    Anthony Wood, Space.com, 11 May 2026
  • It can be used as a nightlight, glows in seven colors and features a selection of soothing soundscapes.
    BestReviews, Mercury News, 8 May 2026
Verb
  • Seated at a desk, the girl smiles, then looks down and begins to write in a notebook.
    Toby Axelrod, Sun Sentinel, 11 May 2026
  • Molly Gordon is all smiles onstage during her interview on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon in New York City on May 7.
    People Staff, PEOPLE, 11 May 2026
Verb
  • Moving on to more pleasant things [laughs].
    Preezy Brown, VIBE.com, 11 May 2026
  • Well, perhaps that’s in the messaging of the people hosting the Met Ball [laughs].
    José Criales-Unzueta, Vanity Fair, 6 May 2026

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Cite this Entry

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

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