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Definition of spotlight noun from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

spotlight

noun
 
 
/ˈspɒtlaɪt/
 
/ˈspɑːtlaɪt/
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  1.  
    (also informal spot)
    [countable] a light with a single, very bright beam that can be directed at a particular place or person, especially a performer on the stage
    • The room was lit by spotlights.
    • When the stage is dimmed, spotlights are used to create a tight arc of light.
    Extra Examples
    • It was hot under the spotlights.
    • They shone the spotlight on a woman at the back of the audience.
    Topics Film and theatrec1
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryverb + spotlight
    • shine
    • step into
    spotlight + verb
    • be on somebody/​something
    • fall on somebody/​something
    • shine on somebody/​something
    • …
    preposition
    • in the spotlight
    • under the spotlight
    See full entry
  2.  
    the spotlight
    [uncountable] the area of light that is made by a spotlight
    • in the spotlight She stood alone on stage in the spotlight.
    • He stepped into the spotlight to the wild applause of the crowd.
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryverb + spotlight
    • shine
    • step into
    spotlight + verb
    • be on somebody/​something
    • fall on somebody/​something
    • shine on somebody/​something
    • …
    preposition
    • in the spotlight
    • under the spotlight
    See full entry
  3.  
    the spotlight
    [uncountable] attention from newspapers, television and the public
    • in the spotlight Unemployment is once again in the spotlight.
    • under the spotlight The issue will come under the spotlight when parliament reassembles.
    • The report has turned the spotlight on the startling rise in street crime.
    • She was happy to share the spotlight with her sister.
    Extra Examples
    • He accused her of hogging the spotlight.
    • He will want to keep the spotlight on the divisions within the party.
    • She was suddenly thrust into the political spotlight.
    • The President has never been one to shun the spotlight.
    • The affair is now out of the spotlight.
    • The captain had to share the spotlight with the new young star.
    • The quality of food in the shops is back in the spotlight.
    • These revelations threw a spotlight on the shakiness of the economy.
    • This issue will come under the spotlight at tomorrow's meeting.
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • harsh
    • international
    • national
    • …
    verb + spotlight
    • come into
    • come under
    • be thrust into
    • …
    spotlight + verb
    • be on somebody/​something
    • fall on somebody/​something
    • shine on somebody/​something
    • …
    preposition
    • away from the spotlight
    • in the spotlight
    • under the spotlight
    • …
    See full entry
See spotlight in the Oxford Advanced American Dictionary
Check pronunciation: spotlight

Nearby words

clerk
noun
 
 
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