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Definition of limelight

limelight

/ˈlaɪm.laɪt/
lime · light
Plural:limelights
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limelight Lexical Profile

limelight Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

The focus of public attention and interest (usually preceded by "the").

Example

"After winning the championship, the young athlete suddenly found herself in the limelight."

2

An intense white light produced by heating a cylinder of quicklime (calcium oxide) in an oxyhydrogen flame, formerly used in theaters to illuminate the stage and performers.

Example

"Before electricity became widespread, 19th-century theaters relied on limelight to highlight the lead actors."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• Nearby Words

limbo
lime
limeade
limelight
limequat
limerick
limescale

Word Origin & Etymology

Coined in the early 19th century from "lime" (calcium oxide) and "light", referring to a brilliant stage-lighting system invented by Scottish engineer Thomas Drummond in the 1820s that directed an oxyhydrogen flame onto a cylinder of quicklime.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Limelight. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/limelight
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