as in lamps
something that provides illumination
the floodlit skyscraper is one of the city's most beloved nighttime beacons
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
as in illumines
to supply with light
a lone lighthouse beacons the entrance to the island's only harbor
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of beacons
Bart Jansen, USA Today, 26 Apr. 2026
These two beacons of truth and connoisseurs of mess have been bonded for over a decade, sharing the traumas of a crappy Boston dorm room and a pitiful Brooklyn dating scene.
—Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 21 Apr. 2026
Much of the Vision Zero budget goes toward road safety improvements such as pedestrian crossing beacons and flashing stop signs.
—Charlotte Observer, 6 Apr. 2026
That includes flashing beacons and bump-outs at Wauwatosa Avenue and Wright Street, bump-outs and signage at Lloyd and 73rd streets and improvements near schools at Center and 120th streets.
—Bridget Fogarty, jsonline.com, 18 Mar. 2026
Search and rescue tools attached to these satellites are able to detect emergency distress signals transmitted by 406 beacons — devices that are specifically designed to ping the satellite.
—Emily Mae Czachor, CBS News, 4 Mar. 2026
Three were not buried and immediately began a companion rescue, using avalanche beacons, probes and shovels to search for friends and partners.
—Aidin Vaziri, San Francisco Chronicle, 28 Feb. 2026
The survivors used avalanche beacons and iPhone Emergency SOS via satellite to text emergency services.
—Ray Sanchez, CNN Money, 21 Feb. 2026
Backcountry skiers typically carry safety equipment such as avalanche beacons to help find each other if they get buried in snow, and probes to dig each other out.
—Jack Dolan, Los Angeles Times, 20 Feb. 2026
Noun
The data is fairly precise, measured to within 3 meters every 2 minutes based on the Global Positioning System, Bluetooth beacons, cell phone towers and local wi-fi networks.
—Bart Jansen, USA Today, 26 Apr. 2026
These two beacons of truth and connoisseurs of mess have been bonded for over a decade, sharing the traumas of a crappy Boston dorm room and a pitiful Brooklyn dating scene.
—Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 21 Apr. 2026
Much of the Vision Zero budget goes toward road safety improvements such as pedestrian crossing beacons and flashing stop signs.
—Charlotte Observer, 6 Apr. 2026
That includes flashing beacons and bump-outs at Wauwatosa Avenue and Wright Street, bump-outs and signage at Lloyd and 73rd streets and improvements near schools at Center and 120th streets.
—Bridget Fogarty, jsonline.com, 18 Mar. 2026
Search and rescue tools attached to these satellites are able to detect emergency distress signals transmitted by 406 beacons — devices that are specifically designed to ping the satellite.
—Emily Mae Czachor, CBS News, 4 Mar. 2026
Three were not buried and immediately began a companion rescue, using avalanche beacons, probes and shovels to search for friends and partners.
—Aidin Vaziri, San Francisco Chronicle, 28 Feb. 2026
The survivors used avalanche beacons and iPhone Emergency SOS via satellite to text emergency services.
—Ray Sanchez, CNN Money, 21 Feb. 2026
Backcountry skiers typically carry safety equipment such as avalanche beacons to help find each other if they get buried in snow, and probes to dig each other out.
—Jack Dolan, Los Angeles Times, 20 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for beacons
Noun
-
The biggest changes came when Cunnick furnished the place, bringing in Noguchi lamps, a Richard Tuttle chair and lamps, and a Judd side table and daybed, which served as seating in a dining nook.—
Adriane Quinlan,
Curbed,
23 Apr. 2026
-
Artwork, handmade ceramics, sconces, and lamps have been gathered on the owners’ European travels or sourced through a circle of design-world friends and local makers.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
23 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
And online, orange lights are intersecting with the trend to paper lanterns.—
Adriane Quinlan,
Curbed,
28 Apr. 2026
-
What begins as a practical solution soon spirals into paranoia when bizarre occurrences — mysterious lights, missing animals and glimpses of unexplainable technology — coincide with the days leading up to a Presidential visit.—
Alex Ritman,
Variety,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
But a sweeping new analysis from Morgan Stanley Research offers a finding that cuts against the fear — and quietly illuminates something far more consequential about how AI is reshaping the American economy.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
29 Apr. 2026
-
Their struggle has upturned the tabletop candle that illuminates the scene and any moment will surely extinguish it, effacing the giddy pattern formed by the writhing bodies and glowing, veiny bladder skin.—
Julian Bell,
The New York Review of Books,
25 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The Greek patriarch will light candles and then the flame is passed from one candle to the next.—
Sam Mednick,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Brumbelow has found that cars with headlights rated highly by IIHS for visibility—which includes many but not all LED headlights—have 19% fewer nighttime crashes compared to cars with poor headlight visibility.—
Matt Fuchs,
Time,
4 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Beacons.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/beacons. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
