broadcast
BRAWD-kahst
Broadcast (verb) means to transmit a program or message by radio, television, or similar means to a wide audience. Example: “The match was broadcast live around the world.”
verb
1
To transmit a program or message by radio, television, or similar means to a wide audience.
"The match was broadcast live around the world."
"They broadcast the news update every hour."
"The station will broadcast the concert live on the radio tonight."
noun
1
A radio or television program transmitted to the public.
"We watched the broadcast of the election results."
"The evening broadcast was interrupted by a weather warning."
"I listened to a radio broadcast about gardening while I cooked."
How to use broadcast
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo send out a radio, TV, or online program to a wide audience — or the program itself.
Common pairings
live broadcast
broadcast live
news broadcast
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like broadcast.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- broadcasts
- Third person singular
- broadcasts
- Past tense
- broadcasted
- Comparative
- more broadcast
- Superlative
- most broadcast
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The match was _____ live around the world.
Etymology
Originally an agricultural term from the 18th century meaning to scatter seed widely by hand; it was later adapted for radio and television transmission.
Class of 1700
broadcast joined the language around 1700.
See the full Class of 1700 →
Synonyms
View more →
transmit
air
televise
relay
telecast
put on air
beam
diffuse
circularise
circulate
circularize
program
Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “broadcast” mean?
The word “broadcast” means to transmit a program or message by radio, television, or similar means to a wide audience. In plain terms, to send out a radio, TV, or online program to a wide audience — or the program itself.
How do you pronounce “broadcast”?
“Broadcast” is pronounced BRAWD-kahst (/ˈbɹɔːd(ˌ)kɑːst/ in IPA).
How do you use “broadcast” in a sentence?
Here is “broadcast” used in a sentence: “The match was broadcast live around the world.”
What is another word for “broadcast”?
Words with a similar meaning to “broadcast” include widespread.
What part of speech is “broadcast”?
Depending on how it is used, “broadcast” can be a verb and a noun.
Where does the word “broadcast” come from?
The word “broadcast” dates back to around 1700. Originally an agricultural term from the 18th century meaning to scatter seed widely by hand; it was later adapted for radio and television transmission.
Is “broadcast” a common word?
“Broadcast” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “broadcast” have?
“Broadcast” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to transmit a program or message by radio, television, or similar means to a wide audience.
What is the difference between broadcast and stream?
Both send content to an audience, but the method differs. Broadcasting transmits the same signal to everyone at once over radio or television airwaves, on a fixed schedule. Streaming delivers content over the internet, often on demand, so each viewer can start and pause independently. Broadcasting is one-to-many and live; streaming is more personal.
What are the types of broadcasting?
The main forms are radio broadcasting, which sends audio, and television broadcasting, which sends audio and video. Broadcasts can be terrestrial over the air, delivered by cable, or relayed by satellite. Content may be live, such as news and sport, or pre-recorded and scheduled for a set time.
Can "broadcast" be used outside of TV and radio?
Yes. Broadcast also means to spread information widely to many people. You might broadcast news across a network, or someone might broadcast a rumour around the office. The core idea, transmitting a message to a wide audience, carries over from its media roots into everyday figurative use.
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include broadcast:
