as in spotlight
the center of public attention
an actress who discovered that the limelight was not such a glowing experience when her privacy was invaded
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Recent Examples of limelight
The city has largely avoided the brunt of the immigration limelight somehow, with Chicago in full focus in recent days.
—
Mandy Taheri, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Oct. 2025
Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair is returning to the international limelight as the prospective head of an authority tasked with the reconstruction of Gaza.
—Tim Lister, CNN Money, 1 Oct. 2025
Trumps otherwise basked in the royal limelight on Wednesday, visibly enjoying the pomp and ceremony, which included a royal gun salute, carriage procession through Windsor and guard of honor.
—Holly Ellyatt, CNBC, 18 Sep. 2025
With the iPhone 17 launch slated for early September, the Korean company will almost certainly release new discounts for the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and attempt to steal some of Apple’s limelight.
—Janhoi McGregor, Forbes.com, 19 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for limelight
Mandy Taheri, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Oct. 2025
Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair is returning to the international limelight as the prospective head of an authority tasked with the reconstruction of Gaza.
—Tim Lister, CNN Money, 1 Oct. 2025
Trumps otherwise basked in the royal limelight on Wednesday, visibly enjoying the pomp and ceremony, which included a royal gun salute, carriage procession through Windsor and guard of honor.
—Holly Ellyatt, CNBC, 18 Sep. 2025
With the iPhone 17 launch slated for early September, the Korean company will almost certainly release new discounts for the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and attempt to steal some of Apple’s limelight.
—Janhoi McGregor, Forbes.com, 19 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for limelight
Recent Examples of Synonyms for limelight
Noun
-
Valentine’s Day tends to spotlight romance, roses and candlelit dinners.—
Cathy M. Rosenthal,
San Antonio Express-News,
10 Feb. 2026
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With Lindsey Vonn recuperating in an Italian hospital, the Olympic spotlight has turned squarely on Shiffrin.—
Dana O’Neil,
CNN Money,
10 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Irene and Clint Cleaves opened what was then the Four Way Grill in 1946, a Southern food sanctuary with an integrated clientele and a back door through which Stax musicians sometimes entered to avoid attention.—
Marc Ramirez,
USA Today,
17 Feb. 2026
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And that notion captured the attention of the public (well, the media), too.—
Ben Smith,
semafor.com,
16 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Limelight.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/limelight. Accessed 17 Feb. 2026.
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