Word
Definitions
01stage lamp
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun Theater
n. a powerful light used in a theatre to shine on a performer.
n. a lamp that produces a strong, focused beam of light to illuminate a specific area or person, typically on a stage.
“The singer stood alone in the spotlight while the rest of the stage was dark.”
“The technician adjusted the spotlight to follow the lead actor as he moved across the stage during the final monologue.”
Synonyms
02public attention
B2 · Upper Intermediate Uncountable noun
n. a situation where someone gets a lot of attention from the public or the media.
n. the state of being the centre of public attention or intense media scrutiny.
“The young athlete found it difficult to live in the spotlight after winning the gold medal.”
“The scandal thrust the private company into the media spotlight, forcing the CEO to issue a public statement.”
03to highlight
B2 · Upper Intermediate
v. to draw attention to a specific problem, person, or fact.
v. to direct public attention toward a particular issue or subject. Transitive — requires a direct object.
“The report aims to spotlight the challenges faced by small businesses today.”
“The documentary successfully spotlighted the environmental impact of industrial farming, sparking a nationwide debate on food policy.”
04to shine light on
C1 · Advanced Formal
v. to shine a bright light directly on something.
v. to illuminate an object or person with a focused beam of light.
Español:enfocar
“The security guard used his torch to spotlight the broken window.”
“The museum's new lighting system is designed to spotlight individual sculptures without creating harsh shadows on the gallery walls.”
Synonyms
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “spotlight” in context.
Verb
01. avoid the spotlight
“Despite her fame, the author prefers to avoid the spotlight and rarely gives interviews.”
verb + noun
02. share the spotlight with others
“The lead singer was happy to share the spotlight with the rest of the band members.”
verb + noun + prep + noun
03. steal the spotlight
“The child's adorable performance managed to steal the spotlight from the professional actors.”
verb + noun
04. thrust into the spotlight
“The young activist was suddenly thrust into the spotlight after her speech went viral.”
verb + prep + noun
Adjective
05. intense spotlight
“The company's ethics came under an intense spotlight following the recent scandal.”
adj + noun
06. unforgiving spotlight
“Public figures often live under an unforgiving spotlight where every mistake is scrutinized.”
adj + noun
Noun
07. glare of the spotlight
“He found it difficult to maintain a private life under the harsh glare of the spotlight.”
noun + of + noun
Preposition
08. in the spotlight
“She has spent most of her adult life in the spotlight as a top-tier athlete.”
prep + noun
09. spotlight bbc
Real-World Examples
“Two families have been trapped by settlers for days, casting a spotlight on the army’s struggle to curtail settler violence and protect Palestinians living in the occupied West Bank.” “The Eurovision Song Contest can have an impact beyond the stage, with the event providing a platform for host cities and countries to put themselves in the spotlight.” “Is it a bit mean of them to haul their teenage children into the spotlight to illustrate their contrasting perspectives on a raging debate on the dangers of digital childhood?” “It was a shame that individuals and sections were made to stand for their every moment in the spotlight, which had unfortunate school-concert vibes.” Etymology
From spot + light.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
The word in film
Spotlight · 2015 · Biography
- Directed by:
- Tom McCarthy
- Starring:
- Rachel McAdams, Michael Keaton, Stanley Tucci
Director Tom McCarthy tells the true story of a team of journalists working for the Boston Globe. These reporters investigate a major scandal to spotlight systemic corruption and bring hidden truths to the public.
- 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
- Frequent
- Level
- C1 · AdvancedOxford
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/spotlight
「カタカナ語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0
‘외래어’ data: 한국어기초사전 (국립국어원), CC BY-SA 2.0 KR
Traducciones: Kaikki.org (Wiktionary), CC BY-SA 4.0