spotlight
gb/spˈɑtlˌaɪt/ us/spˈɑtlˌaɪt/
B1
Inglés
~ 6200
Acepciones
0 acepciones
Sustantivo
B1
entity
1
intense public or media attention
A lot of public and media attention on one person, group, or thing.
Patrón de uso:
[someone/something] is in the spotlight
Error frecuente:
Learners sometimes say *"on the spotlight"* instead of *"in the spotlight" or "under the spotlight" when talking about attention. Use *"in the spotlight"* for fame or focus, and *"under the spotlight"* when stress or critical examination is implied.
Sinónimos
limelight (Very close in meaning, slightly more literary and used mostly for fame and show business.)
Antónimos
obscurity (Describes being unknown with no public attention, the opposite of being in the spotlight.)
Colocaciones
in the spotlight
|under the spotlight
|share the spotlight
|avoid the spotlight
|put [someone] in the spotlight
|step into the spotlight
Temas
media
|fame
|society
|communication
|core_vocabulary
Ejemplos
- After winning the award, she suddenly found herself in the spotlight.
- The scandal put the company in the spotlight for all the wrong reasons.
- He prefers to work behind the scenes and hates being in the spotlight.
- The documentary brought the issue of food waste into the spotlight.
- Young athletes are often thrust into the spotlight before they are ready.
Ejemplos para estudiantes
- The singer is in the spotlight this week.
- The new law put the problem of air pollution in the spotlight.
- He does not like the spotlight and keeps his life private.
- The movie put the small town in the spotlight.
- After the accident, the bus company came into the spotlight.
Sustantivo
B1
entity
2
strong focused light for stage or film
A very strong light that shines on one person or place, often in a theater or show.
Patrón de uso:
a spotlight shines on [someone/something]
Error frecuente:
Learners sometimes confuse *spotlight* with *flashlight*. A *spotlight* is usually large and fixed for shows or buildings; a *flashlight* is a small light you hold in your hand.
Sinónimos
floodlight (Also a strong light, but usually covers a wide area instead of a narrow, focused beam.)
Antónimos
darkness (The absence of light, contrasting with the strong illumination from a spotlight.)
Colocaciones
stage spotlight
|follow spotlights
|a bright spotlight
|step into the spotlight
|under the spotlight
|adjust the spotlight
Temas
entertainment
|technology
|art
|arts_entertainment
Ejemplos
- A single spotlight lit the actor as he walked onto the stage.
- The photographer adjusted the spotlight to soften the shadows on her face.
- Colored spotlights moved across the crowd during the concert.
- The museum uses a small spotlight to highlight each painting.
- He stood nervously in the spotlight, waiting for his first line.
Ejemplos para estudiantes
- A bright spotlight was on the singer.
- The stage was dark except for one spotlight.
- They used a spotlight to find the boat at night.
- The artist put a spotlight above the painting.
- I closed my eyes when the spotlight pointed at me.
Verbo
B2
action
3
to highlight or feature strongly
To show or talk about something in a way that makes many people pay attention to it.
Patrón de uso:
to spotlight [something/someone]
Error frecuente:
Learners sometimes use *spotlight* like a noun in patterns that need a verb, for example *"The program is spotlight of young artists"*. In this pattern, use the verb: *"The program spotlights young artists."* Also, do not add *"on"* directly after the verb; say *"spotlights the problem"*, not *"spotlights on the problem"*.
Sinónimos
highlight (Very close in meaning; *highlight* is more common in both spoken and written English and can sound slightly more neutral or technical.)
Antónimos
ignore (To pay no attention to something, which is the opposite of spotlighting it.)
Colocaciones
spotlight a problem
|spotlight an issue
|spotlight a talent
|spotlight the achievements of [group]
|spotlight diversity
|spotlight the need for [something]
Temas
media
|communication
|business
|arts_entertainment
Ejemplos
- The report spotlights the challenges faced by low‑income families.
- The campaign aims to spotlight local artists from marginalized communities.
- The article spotlights three companies leading the move to clean energy.
- The documentary spotlights corruption within the prison system.
- This week’s episode spotlights the history of jazz in New Orleans.
Ejemplos para estudiantes
- The TV show spotlights new writers every month.
- The teacher spotlighted three students for their hard work.
- The news story spotlighted problems in the hospital.
- The project spotlights the need for clean water.
- The website spotlights small local businesses.
Sustantivo
B2
entity
4
bright circle of light on a surface
The bright round patch of light that a strong lamp makes on the floor, wall, or a person.
Patrón de uso:
[someone/something] stands in the spotlight
Error frecuente:
Learners may confuse this concrete meaning with the figurative *"in the spotlight"* meaning of public attention. Here, the person is literally standing in a bright circle of light, usually on a stage.
Sinónimos
beam (of light) (A general term for a line or area of light; it does not imply the classic stage‑style circle that *spotlight* suggests.)
Antónimos
shadow (An area made dark because light is blocked, the opposite of the bright area created by a spotlight.)
Colocaciones
stand in the spotlight
|step into the spotlight
|a white spotlight on [something]
|move the spotlight
|pick out [someone] in the spotlight
Temas
entertainment
|visuals
|arts_entertainment
|core_vocabulary
Ejemplos
- She waited in the dark until the spotlight appeared at center stage.
- A small spotlight on the painting drew visitors’ eyes to it.
- The dancer moved with the spotlight as it tracked her across the stage.
- He stepped out of the spotlight and disappeared into the wings.
- A white spotlight on the flag made it stand out against the night sky.
Ejemplos para estudiantes
- The actor stood alone in the spotlight.
- The spotlight on the floor was a perfect circle.
- The spotlight followed the singer across the stage.
- When the spotlight went off, the room was dark.
- A red spotlight was on the main door.
Gramática
Forma de diccionario
spotlight
AFI
GB/spˈɑtlˌaɪt/
US/spˈɑtlˌaɪt/
Sílabas y acento
spot - light (2 sílabas)
Stress on 1st syllable (spot)
Formas de la palabra
Noun
- Base: spotlight
- Plural: spotlights
Verb
- Base: spotlight
- 3rd Person Singular: spotlights
- Present Participle: spotlighting
- Past: spotlighted
Familia de palabras
Forms
spotlights
noun
spotlighting
verb
spotlighted
verb
Expresiones
in the spotlight
1/ˈɪn ðə spˈɑtlˌaɪt/
idiom
being the center of attention
Getting a lot of attention from people and often from the media.
Ejemplos
- After the viral video, she was suddenly in the spotlight.
- Many politicians enjoy being in the spotlight, but others find it stressful.
- The small town was in the spotlight after the film was shot there.
put [someone/something] in the spotlight
1/pˈʊt sˈoʊmˈoʊnsəmˈɛθɪŋ ˈɪn ðə spˈɑtlˌaɪt/
fixed phrase
cause to receive strong attention
To make people pay a lot of attention to someone or something.
Ejemplos
- The investigation put the company in the spotlight.
- Her performance put her in the spotlight overnight.
- The new study puts climate change in the spotlight again.
share the spotlight
1/ʃˈɛɹ ðə spˈɑtlˌaɪt/
idiom
divide attention or fame with others
To have attention or praise go to more than one person, not only to you.
Ejemplos
- She was happy to share the spotlight with her co‑stars.
- The coach asked the star player to share the spotlight and support his teammates.
- The director and the actors shared the spotlight at the film festival.
shy away from the spotlight
1/ʃˈaɪ əwˈeɪ fɹˈʌm ðə spˈɑtlˌaɪt/
idiom
avoid being the center of attention
To try not to be famous or very visible; to avoid attention.
Ejemplos
- The scientist shies away from the spotlight and rarely gives interviews.
- Despite his success, he shies away from the spotlight.
- They tend to shy away from the spotlight and let their work speak for itself.
steal the spotlight
1/stˈil ðə spˈɑtlˌaɪt/
idiom
informal
take attention away from others
To get most of the attention, so that people notice you more than someone else, often without planning to.
Ejemplos
- Her little brother stole the spotlight by dancing on stage.
- The surprise guest stole the spotlight from the main speaker.
- The new product stole the spotlight at the tech show.
step into the spotlight
1/stˈɛp ˈɪntu ðə spˈɑtlˌaɪt/
idiom
move into a public role
To become well known and get public attention, often by taking a new or bigger role.
Ejemplos
- The young actor stepped into the spotlight with his first major role.
- After years of quiet work, she finally stepped into the spotlight as CEO.
- He is not ready to step into the spotlight yet.
turn the spotlight on [something]
1/tˈɚn ðə spˈɑtlˌaɪt ˈɔn sˈʌmθɪŋ/
fixed phrase
focus attention on an issue
To make many people focus on a problem, topic, or situation.
Ejemplos
- The report turns the spotlight on child poverty.
- Recent protests have turned the spotlight on police reform.
- The documentary turns the spotlight on mental health in schools.
under the spotlight
1/ˈʌndɚ ðə spˈɑtlˌaɪt/
idiom
being closely examined or criticized
Being watched and checked very carefully, often in a critical way.
Ejemplos
- The police force is under the spotlight after the recent scandal.
- The company’s safety record is under the spotlight again.
- His spending is under the spotlight ahead of the election.