broadcast
Americanverb (used with object)
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to transmit (programs) from a radio or television station.
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to speak, perform, sponsor, or present on a radio or television program.
The president will broadcast his message on all stations tonight.
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to cast or scatter abroad over an area, as seed in sowing.
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to spread widely; disseminate.
She broadcast the good news all over town.
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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)
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to transmit programs or signals from a radio or television station.
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to make something known widely; disseminate something.
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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
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something that is broadcast.
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a single radio or television program.
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the broadcasting of radio or television messages, speeches, etc.
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a single period of broadcasting
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a method of sowing by scattering seed.
adjective
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(of programs) transmitted from a radio or television station.
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of or relating to broadcasting.
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cast abroad or all over an area, as seed scattered widely.
adverb
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so as to reach the greatest number of people by radio or television.
The vital news was sent broadcast to inform the entire nation.
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so as to be cast abroad over an area.
seed sown broadcast.
verb
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to transmit (announcements or programmes) on radio or television
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(intr) to take part in a radio or television programme
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(tr) to make widely known throughout an area
to broadcast news
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(tr) to scatter (seed, etc) over an area, esp by hand
noun
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a transmission or programme on radio or television
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( as modifier )
a broadcast signal
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the act of scattering seeds
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( as modifier )
the broadcast method of sowing
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adjective
adverb
Usage
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.
Other Word Forms
- broadcaster noun
- broadcasting noun
- unbroadcasted adjective
Etymology
Origin of broadcast
First recorded in 1760–70; originally, broad (adverb) + cast, past participle of cast ( def. )
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
An emergency alert broadcast in English warned people to take cover away from the windows.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 4, 2026
All three ships signalled they were an "OMANI SHIP" in the message broadcast by their transponder as they crossed the strait.
From Barron's • Apr. 3, 2026
After the music is done for the night, the stream repeats until the next day’s broadcast begins.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 1, 2026
Albanese said in a statement broadcast Wednesday by major television and radio networks that “the months ahead may not be easy.”
From MarketWatch • Apr. 1, 2026
Most stations are either offline or have triggered the emergency broadcast network, so it’s the same thing almost everywhere.
From "Dry" by Neal Shusterman and Jarrod Shusterman
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
