1. the center of public attention or interest
Usage: usually used with ‘the’
2. intense white lights formerly used in theaters, produced by heating lime
Usage: historical; theatrical

Examples

• The scandal thrust the politician into the limelights.
• She enjoyed being in the limelights during her acting career.
• The young singer stepped into the limelights for the first time.
• He preferred to stay out of the limelights and work behind the scenes.
• The old theater still had the original limelights from the 1800s.
• Before electric lighting, limelights illuminated the stage.