1,400 new words in our dictionary! — Parasocial, glow-up, promposal & more
1,400 new words in our dictionary! — More

center stages

noun

plural of center stage
as in spotlights
the center of public attention a public health problem that has moved to center stage in recent years

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for center stages
  1. spotlights
  2. attentions
Noun
  • Photos published on Instagram by Darrin Dressler show spotlights turned to the sky, extending the height of the 217-foot tower.
    — Eleanor Nash, Kansas City Star, 21 Sep. 2026
  • The final installment under the name Creativity spotlights 19 runway looks from current chief creative officer Daniel Lee and his predecessor Christopher Bailey.
    — Tianwei Zhang, Footwear News, 17 Sep. 2026
Definition of spotlights
Noun
  • The understated drama stars Scarlett Johansson as a young, rudderless college graduate accompanying her photographer husband (Giovanni Ribisi) on a trip to Tokyo, where his attentions are diverted to a blonde starlet (Anna Faris).
    — Jami Ganz, Entertainment Weekly, 12 Sep. 2026
  • Trump’s tariffs on Canada and Mexico in 2025 and his escalating trade war with Canada this year have turned the countries’ attentions inward, onto disputes among the three partners, at precisely the moment when the threat is coming from the outside.
    — Chad P. Bown, Foreign Affairs, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of attentions
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.

Browse Nearby Words

center stage
center stages
central
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Center stages.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/center%20stages. Accessed 24 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of pundit

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

More Commonly Mispronounced Words

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Sept. 25
See More

Popular

See More

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
crayons-in-a-circle
Guess the Color Quiz Questions that use the whole box of crayons.
See All