Synonyms/Hypernyms (Ordered by Estimated Frequency) of noun spotlight

2 senses of spotlight

Sense 1
limelight, spotlight, glare, public eye -- (a focus of public attention; "he enjoyed being in the limelight"; "when Congress investigates it brings the full glare of publicity to the agency")
       => prominence -- (the state of being prominent: widely known or eminent)

Sense 2
spotlight, spot -- (a lamp that produces a strong beam of light to illuminate a restricted area; used to focus attention of a stage performer)
       => lamp -- (an artificial source of visible illumination)

Synonyms/Hypernyms (Ordered by Estimated Frequency) of verb spotlight

2 senses of spotlight

Sense 1
foreground, highlight, spotlight, play up -- (move into the foreground to make more visible or prominent; "The introduction highlighted the speaker's distinguished career in linguistics")
       => bring out, set off -- (direct attention to, as if by means of contrast; "This dress accentuates your nice figure!"; "I set off these words by brackets")

Sense 2
spotlight -- (illuminate with a spotlight, as in the theater)
       => light, illume, illumine, light up, illuminate -- (make lighter or brighter; "This lamp lightens the room a bit")