broadcast

[ brawd-kast, -kahst ]

/ ˈbrɔdˌkæst, -ˌkɑst /

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See synonyms for: broadcast / broadcasting on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object), broad·cast or broad·cast·ed, broad·cast·ing.

to transmit (programs) from a radio or television station.

to speak, perform, sponsor, or present on a radio or television program: The president will broadcast his message on all stations tonight.

to cast or scatter abroad over an area, as seed in sowing.

to spread widely; disseminate: She broadcast the good news all over town.

to indicate unwittingly to another (one's next action); telegraph: He broadcast his punch and the other man was able to parry it.

verb (used without object), broad·cast or broad·cast·ed, broad·cast·ing.

to transmit programs or signals from a radio or television station.

to make something known widely; disseminate something.

to speak, perform, sponsor, or present all or part of a radio or television program: The Boston Symphony Orchestra broadcasts every Saturday on our local station.

noun

something that is broadcast.

a single radio or television program.

the broadcasting of radio or television messages, speeches, etc.

a single period of broadcasting

a method of sowing by scattering seed.

adjective

(of programs) transmitted from a radio or television station.

of or relating to broadcasting.

cast abroad or all over an area, as seed scattered widely.

adverb

so as to reach the greatest number of people by radio or television: The vital news was sent broadcast to inform the entire nation.

so as to be cast abroad over an area: seed sown broadcast.

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His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Origin of broadcast

First recorded in 1760–70; originally, broad (adverb) + cast, past participle of cast

OTHER WORDS FROM broadcast

un·broad·cast·ed, adjective

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH broadcast

broadcast , narrowcast, simulcast

Words nearby broadcast

broad-based, broad bean, broadbill, broadbrim, broad-brush, broadcast, broadcaster, broadcasting, broadcast journalism, Broad Church, broadcloth

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

MORE ABOUT BROADCAST

What does broadcast mean?

Broadcast means to transmit a television or radio program, as in The network broadcasted cartoons every Saturday morning.

In this sense a broadcast can be a single TV or radio program, as in the 6 o’clock news broadcast.

Broadcast also means to deliver a message on a transmitted program, as in The police broadcasted the press release on the evening news.

More generally, broadcast means to spread something widely, as in She broadcasted her recent wedding engagement to all of her family members.

Related to this sense, a broadcast can be news or something similar that you share widely, like your broadcast to your classmates about the A you got on the test.

Broadcast also means to mistakenly make a next move obvious, as in The boxer broadcasted his punch with a flashy windup.

Example: Coverage of the awards ceremony was the leading story on every news broadcast.

Where does broadcast come from?

The first records of broadcast come from around 1760. It combines the word broad, meaning “fully,” and the past tense of the verb cast, meaning “to fling or throw.” The word broadcast has been used to refer to widely distributing (flinging) seeds over a large area when planting.

The word broadcast is used heavily in terms of television and radio. In fact, a person who works in one or both of these industries will often refer to them collectively as broadcasting, as in I had a career in broadcasting. Usually, a broadcast will be specified according to the content that it focuses on, such as a news broadcast or a sports broadcast.

Did you know … ?

What are some other forms related to broadcast?

unbroadcasted (adjective)
broadcaster (noun)
broadcasting (noun)

What are some synonyms for broadcast?

What are some words that share a root or word element with broadcast?

broad
cast

What are some words that often get used in discussing broadcast?

How is broadcast used in real life?

Broadcast is a commonly used word, especially referring to television or radio programs.

Tune in for Charlie Gibson's final evening broadcast on "World News" at 6:30 p.m. ET. He will truly be missed.

— ABC News (@ABC) December 18, 2009

First time in history, a Pakistani leader's victory speech was broadcasted worldwide by international media giants. 'Change' hits Pakistan.

— Dr Saqlain Shah (@DrSaqlainSh) July 26, 2018

Discovery, which will tonight broadcast messages on Sky warning of the blackout, says it is paid less for its channels now than in 2006

— Mark Sweney (@marksweney) January 25, 2017

Try using broadcast!

Which of the following words is NOT a synonym of broadcast?

A. announce
B. spread
C. hide
D. declare

How to use broadcast in a sentence

All of the nominees, presenters, and performers will be scattered around the world, broadcasting from their homes.
The virtual Emmys could give a much-needed jolt to the fading awards show|Adam Epstein|September 17, 2020|Quartz
The company is setting the CPMs at the agency level, so the executives declined to discuss specifics but said the CPMs are in the range of CPMs for primetime broadcast TV shows, which can hover around $80.
WarnerMedia eyes spring debut for HBO Max’s ad-supported tier|Tim Peterson|September 10, 2020|Digiday
This year, most advertisers signed deals with TV networks under the usual October through August broadcast window, and the majority of the money committed is earmarked for linear TV.
‘There wasn’t a huge shift’: TV upfront market did not undergo expected overhaul this year|Tim Peterson|September 9, 2020|Digiday
One is a multi-billion dollar colossus with worldwide broadcasts.
This elite college is building a COVID ‘bubble’—where students are tested 3 times per week, and can’t leave campus|Lee Clifford|September 5, 2020|Fortune

As in the United States, where “Swipe Night” first launched last October, the international version of “Swipe Night” will be broadcast on the weekend.
Tinder’s interactive video event ‘Swipe Night’ will launch in international markets this month|Catherine Shu|September 4, 2020|TechCrunch
In fact, Americans had to wait several hours until film of the event reached New York for it to be broadcast.
Dr. King Goes to Hollywood: The Flawed History of ‘Selma’|Gary May|January 2, 2015|DAILY BEAST
More than 20 million people tuned in to a broadcast network drama and saw two gay men have explicit sex.
Year of the Butt: How the Booty Changed the World in 2014|Kevin Fallon|December 30, 2014|DAILY BEAST
If you look at the newspapers, it's all broadcast all over the place.
Justice League Vigil for Slain NYPD Officers Asks Whose Life Matters|Olivia Nuzzi|December 22, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Schiff, the Hollywood congressman, said that the movie should be promptly released and widely broadcast.
Obama Could Hit China to Punish North Korea|Shane Harris, Tim Mak|December 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
“Hollywood has opened a new front in the war against Iran,” an evening news broadcast declared.
When Countries Lose Their Shit Over American Movies|Asawin Suebsaeng|December 17, 2014|DAILY BEAST
But if they all pick up the broadcast that this is where to get a free ride home, I'll have just another sand trap here.
Fee of the Frontier|Horace Brown Fyfe
Disapproval has been expressed of many of the broadcast serials and suggestive love songs.
Report of the Special Committee on Moral Delinquency in Children and Adolescents|Oswald Chettle Mazengarb et al.
When crime serials are broadcast it should be made obvious that crime does not pay.
Report of the Special Committee on Moral Delinquency in Children and Adolescents|Oswald Chettle Mazengarb et al.
My uncle's radio broadcast continued all night and through the morning hours.
The Flaming Mountain|Harold Leland Goodwin
By agreement, the countdown was to be broadcast to all aircraft over one of the airport frequencies.
The Flaming Mountain|Harold Leland Goodwin

British Dictionary definitions for broadcast

broadcast

/ (ˈbrɔːdˌkɑːst) /

verb -casts, -casting, -cast or -casted

to transmit (announcements or programmes) on radio or television

(intr) to take part in a radio or television programme

(tr) to make widely known throughout an areato broadcast news

(tr) to scatter (seed, etc) over an area, esp by hand

noun

a transmission or programme on radio or television
(as modifier)a broadcast signal

the act of scattering seeds
(as modifier)the broadcast method of sowing

adjective

dispersed over a wide areabroadcast seeds

adverb

far and wideseeds to be sown broadcast

Derived forms of broadcast

broadcaster, nounbroadcasting, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

broadcast

Origin of broadcast

OTHER WORDS FROM broadcast

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH broadcast

Words nearby broadcast

MORE ABOUT BROADCAST

What does broadcast mean?

Where does broadcast come from?

Did you know … ?

How is broadcast used in real life?

Try using broadcast!

Words related to broadcast

How to use broadcast in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for broadcast

Derived forms of broadcast