1. the lights that illuminate the interior of a theater, concert hall, or similar venue, typically dimmed during a performance and raised before and after
Usage: usually plural; theater/entertainment context

Examples

• The houselights dimmed as the curtain rose on the opening scene.
• When the houselights came up, the audience began to applaud.
• The theater manager instructed the technician to raise the houselights after the final act.
• Patrons were still finding their seats while the houselights were still on.
• The conductor waited for the houselights to dim before raising his baton.