Beamforming codebook synthesis in a wireless communications system (WCS) is provided. A wireless node simultaneously emits multiple reference beams in a coverage area based on a set of codewords that is optimized for a specific number of antenna elements in an antenna array. The wireless node may need to emit the reference beams using a different number of the antenna elements in the antenna array. Herein, the wireless node is configured to determine a different set(s) of codewords that is fine tuned for forming an identical number of the reference beams from a different number of the antenna elements and steered toward identical directions. In addition, the wireless node can dynamically select an appropriate set of codewords in response to different operating conditions. As such, it is possible to switch transparently, from both wireless node and end user perspectives, between different antenna array configurations under different operating conditions.