emit

[ih-mit]

verb (used with object)

emitted, emitting 

1. to send forth (liquid, light, heat, sound, particles, etc.); discharge.

2. to give forth or release (a sound).

   He emitted one shrill cry and then was silent.

3. to utter or voice, as opinions.

4. to issue, as an order or a decree.

5. to issue formally for circulation, as paper money.

emit

/ ɪˈmɪt /

verb

1. to give or send forth; discharge

   the pipe emitted a stream of water

2. to give voice to; utter

   she emitted a shrill scream

3. physics to give off (radiation or particles)

4. to put (currency) into circulation

Other Word Forms

• reemit verb (used with object)
• self-emitted adjective
• unemitted adjective
• unemitting adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of emit¹

First recorded in 1620–30; from Latin ēmittere “to send forth,” from ē- e- ¹ + mittere “to let go, send”

Word History and Origins

Origin of emit¹

C17: from Latin ēmittere to send out, from mittere to send

Example Sentences

Videos shared to social media showed the large, beachfront home emitting black smoke and engulfed in flames.

From Salon

If not done carefully, bioenergy projects run the risk of emitting carbon — not sequestering it — and polluting communities already grappling with some of the state’s dirtiest air.

From Los Angeles Times

Three sterilization facilities in Los Angeles and San Bernardino counties have been granted EPA exemptions to emit cancer-linked ethylene oxide.

From Los Angeles Times

The analysis likely overstates emissions, since the near-guarantee that regulators will approve a permit gives companies an incentive to request authorization for amounts larger than they intend to emit to ensure they’re in compliance.

From Salon

For comparison, it is more than the total annual CO2 emitted by all of Croatia in 2023.

From BBC

Related Words

• beam 
• belch 
• breathe 
• emanate 
• exhale 
• expend 
• exude 
• give off 
• ooze 
• pour 
• radiate 
• secrete 
• spew 
• spill 
• spit 
• transmit 
• utter 
• vent 

When To Use

What does emit mean?

Emit means to release or discharge something, such as gas, liquid, heat, sound, light, or radiation.The process of emitting is called emission. Emission can also refer to something that has been emitted. A specific example of an emission is the exhaust emitted from cars (in the U.S., such emissions are regulated through emissions tests). This exhaust is just one form of carbon emissions—greenhouse gases emitted from various sources that are known to contribute to global warming and climate change.In things like TVs and light bulbs, the term LED stands for “light-emitting diode,” a semiconductor device that emits light when conducting current.Emit usually implies that things are being released in a passive way, but some senses of the word are more active.Emit sometimes specifically means to give off or make a sound, as in My cat emitted the worst sound when I accidentally stepped on his tail. It can also be used in a somewhat figurative way meaning to say or voice, as in She certainly emitted her opinion. Example: Collectively, volcanoes emit carbon dioxide at far lower levels than cars and airplanes.