Marquee has two common meanings:

1. A large tent, often open-sided, used for outdoor events like weddings, parties, or festivals. Picture a big white canopy set up on a lawn where people can gather, protected from sun or rain. These temporary structures create an elegant outdoor space for celebrations.
2. The covered entrance or roof-like structure that projects out over the entrance of a theater, hotel, or other building. Originally, marquees displayed the names of shows, performers, or movies on their faces, often lit up with bright lights. When you see “now appearing in lights on the marquee,” it means someone famous is being advertised prominently at a venue. A movie theater's marquee might display the titles of current films in bold letters, while a concert hall's marquee announces the evening's performers.

The theater meaning also extends to describe something or someone featured prominently: a marquee player is the star athlete whose name draws crowds, and a marquee event is the main attraction everyone wants to attend. When something gets “top billing on the marquee,” it receives the most prominent recognition.