Word
limelight
Phoneticslime·light, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈɫaɪmˌɫaɪt/
UK/lˈaɪmlaɪt/
Uncountable noun
Definition
n. the center of public attention or interest. You are in the limelight when everyone is looking at you or talking about your work.
n. the focus of public attention or notoriety. Derived from a historical stage lighting technique, it is now used figuratively to describe high-profile visibility.
Examples
“The young actor is finally in the limelight.”
“After years of working behind the scenes, the scientist was thrust into the limelight by her groundbreaking discovery.”
“While some celebrities actively court the limelight to maintain their relevance, others find the constant public scrutiny to be an exhausting intrusion into their private lives.”
Examples
simple
“The young actor is finally in the limelight.”
contextual
“After years of working behind the scenes, the scientist was thrust into the limelight by her groundbreaking discovery.”
complex
“While some celebrities actively court the limelight to maintain their relevance, others find the constant public scrutiny to be an exhausting intrusion into their private lives.”
Usage
Usually appears in the singular and is almost always preceded by the definite article 'the'. Commonly follows the prepositions 'in', 'into', or 'out of'.
Real-World Examples
“But in 2016 he quietly disappeared from the limelight.” “There are many good reasons why Burnley and West Ham are performing as Premier League tribute acts, slumming it in the Championship with the hope of a shot at the limelight once more.” Etymology
From lime + light.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
The word in film
Limelight · 1952 · Comedy
- Directed by:
- Charlie Chaplin
- Starring:
- Buster Keaton, Geraldine Chaplin, Claire Bloom
Charlie Chaplin wrote, directed, and starred in this drama about an aging music-hall comedian who saves a young dancer from despair. The title refers to the theatrical stage lighting of early theaters, serving as a metaphor for the public spotlight and fleeting fame.
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
QR code
englishreference.com/q/limelight