noun

limelight

LYM-lyt

noun

The center of public attention; fame and visibility.

"After the award, she found herself thrust into the limelight."

Historical: a bright stage light produced by heating a block of lime, once used in theatres.

"Before electric lighting, actors performed under limelight."

How to Use Limelight

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishBeing the center of public attention, like a performer under a spotlight.

Common pairings

in the limelight steal the limelight avoid the limelight

limelighted past tense, limelit past tense, limelights plural, limelights singular

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Can you complete this real example?

After the award, she found herself thrust into the _____.

From lime (the mineral, heated to produce light) plus light — the old stage-lighting technology gave us the modern figurative meaning.

delight candlelight