noun
spotlight
SPOT-lyt
noun
1
A powerful, directed beam of light used to illuminate a specific person or area, especially on a stage.
"The singer stepped into the spotlight as the crowd cheered."
2
The center of public attention or focus.
"The scandal put the senator in the spotlight for weeks."
verb
1
To draw attention to something.
"The documentary spotlights the struggles of small farmers."
How to Use Spotlight
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA focused beam of light, or being the center of attention.
Common pairings
steal the spotlight
in the spotlight
spotlight an issue
Word Forms
spotlighted past tense, spotlit past tense, spotlights plural, spotlights singular
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The singer stepped into the _____ as the crowd cheered.
Etymology
A compound of "spot" and "light," referring originally to a light aimed at a specific spot on stage.