What does "beacon" mean?
A signal fire to notify of the approach of an enemy, or to give any notice, commonly of warning.
Beacon
name, noun, verb
name, noun, verb ·2 syllables ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A signal fire to notify of the approach of an enemy, or to give any notice, commonly of warning.
- Grammar: beacon is listed as name, noun, verb.
- Nearest alternatives: lighthouse, advertisement, aid to navigation, air-raid alarm.
- Useful contrasts: darkness, despair, discouragement.
- Usage evidence: To all those who have wondered if America's beacon still burns as bright: Tonight we proved once more that the true strength of our nation comes not from the might of our arms or the scale of our wealth, but from the enduring power of our ideals: democracy, liberty, opportunity and unyielding hope.
How to use "beacon"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "beacon" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "beacon" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "beacon" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "beacon" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "beacon" is acting as name, noun, verb in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "lighthouse" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "beacon", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A signal fire to notify of the approach of an enemy, or to give any notice, commonly of warning.
"No flaming Beacons caſt their Blaze afar, / The dreadful Signal of invaſive VVar."
- 2 a tower with a light that gives warning of shoals to passing ships wordnet
- 3 A signal, buoy, post, or other conspicuous mark erected on an eminence near the shore, or moored in shoal water, as a guide to mariners, particularly to warn vessels of danger.
"Henceforth, wherever thou may’st roam, / My blessing, like a line of light, / Is on the waters day and night, / And like a beacon guards thee home."
- 4 a radio station that broadcasts a directional signal for navigational purposes wordnet
- 5 A high hill or other easily distinguishable object near the shore which can serve as guidance for seafarers.
Show 4 more definitions
- 6 a fire (usually on a hill or tower) that can be seen from a distance wordnet
- 7 That which gives notice of danger, hope, etc., or keeps people on the correct path; a source of inspiration. figuratively
"a beacon of hope"
- 8 An electronic device that broadcasts a signal to nearby portable devices, enabling smartphones etc. to perform actions when in physical proximity to the beacon.
- 9 Ellipsis of web beacon. Internet, abbreviation, alt-of, ellipsis
Verb
- 1 To act as a beacon. intransitive
- 2 guide with a beacon wordnet
- 3 To give light to, as a beacon; to light up; to illumine. transitive
"That beacons the darkness of heaven."
- 4 shine like a beacon wordnet
- 5 To furnish with a beacon or beacons. transitive
Proper Noun
- 1 A town in Western Australia.
- 2 A city and town in Iowa, United States.
- 3 A city in New York, United States.
- 4 A hamlet in Devon, England.
- 5 A surname.
Synonyms
All synonymsExample
"To all those who have wondered if America's beacon still burns as bright: Tonight we proved once more that the true strength of our nation comes not from the might of our arms or the scale of our wealth, but from the enduring power of our ideals: democracy, liberty, opportunity and unyielding hope."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "beacon"?
Common synonyms include: lighthouse, advertisement, aid to navigation, air-raid alarm, airport beacon, airway beacon.
How do you use "beacon" in a sentence?
To all those who have wondered if America's beacon still burns as bright: Tonight we proved once more that the true strength of our nation comes not from the might of our arms or the scale of our wealth, but from the enduring power of our ideals: democracy, liberty, opportunity and unyielding hope.
Etymology
From Middle English beken, from Old English bēacn (“sign, signal”), from Proto-West Germanic *baukn, from Proto-Germanic *baukną, from Proto-Indo-European *bʰeh₂u-, *bʰeh₂- (“to shine”). Doublet of buoy. Compare West Frisian beaken (“buoy”), Dutch baken (“beacon”), Middle Low German bāke (“beacon, sign”), German Bake (“traffic sign”), Middle High German bouchen (“sign”).