emit
Americanverb (used with object)
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emits,
present (3rd person singular)
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emitted,
past participle, past
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emitting
present participle
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to send forth (liquid, light, heat, sound, particles, etc.); discharge.
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to give forth or release (a sound).
He emitted one shrill cry and then was silent.
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to utter or voice, as opinions.
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to issue, as an order or a decree.
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to issue formally for circulation, as paper money.
verb
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to give or send forth; discharge
the pipe emitted a stream of water
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to give voice to; utter
she emitted a shrill scream
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physics to give off (radiation or particles)
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to put (currency) into circulation
Usage
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.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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emitsimple
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emitssimple
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have emittedperfect
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has emittedperfect
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am emittingprogressive
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are emittingprogressive
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is emittingprogressive
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have been emittingperfect progressive
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has been emittingperfect progressive
Past
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emittedsimple
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had emittedperfect
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was emittingprogressive
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were emittingprogressive
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had been emittingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of emit
First recorded in 1620–30; from Latin ēmittere “to send forth,” from ē- e- 1 + mittere “to let go, send”
Explanation
To emit means to give off or let out, and it usually has a lot to do with gases, smells and noises. All of which could be potentially embarrassing, depending on where they're coming from. Lots of things can be emitted: body heat from your hands, high-pitched sound waves from a dog whistle, nasty odors from your mouth after a garlic-heavy lunch. Coming from the Latin emitter, it simply means to “send forth.” Since climate change is such a hot topic, you've probably heard people talking about how much CO₂ cars emit or how many greenhouse gases factories emit into the air.
Vocabulary lists containing emit
List 3
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Send a Message: Mit and Miss
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The SAT: Multiple-Meaning Words, List 8
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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.
See Examples For:
Ditto manufacturers of petrochemicals and even dairy farmers since cows emit methane.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 6, 2026
But on the central point, the science is clear: the more greenhouse gases we emit, the warmer the planet will become.
From BBC ● Sep. 8, 2026
If the data centers have bright lights and emit a lot of noise because of their cooling fans, “it changes the relatively quiet residential environment into something that’s constantly loud,” he said.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 4, 2026
These antennas absorb light with a particular color and helicity, then emit that light in a specific direction.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 18, 2026
Most intriguing was the possibility of a chain reaction: if neutrons emitted in fission struck neighboring nuclei and caused them to split, they might in turn emit even more neutrons, producing more fissions.
From "Big Science" by Michael Hiltzik
Sea ice emits more microwave energy than liquid water, producing a recognizable contrast in satellite observations.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 15, 2026
Page also points out that, whether on fire or not, a drained peatland emits carbon dioxide into the atmosphere "all of the time".
From BBC ● Sep. 6, 2026
The river also emits airborne toxins including noxious hydrogen sulfide gas, which causes asthma, headaches and other ailments in neighboring communities.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 2, 2026
Gaofen 3 uses 'synthetic aperture radar,' or SAR, which emits microwave pulses to gather data, capturing imagery at any time of day or night, regardless of cloud cover.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 29, 2026
The brass lamp on the round table between us emits an amber glow.
From "Orphan Train" by Christina Baker Kline
These instruments detect microwave energy naturally emitted by Earth's surface, allowing researchers to distinguish frozen seawater from the surrounding open ocean.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 15, 2026
He emitted an air of great seriousness while also seeming nearly egoless.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 11, 2026
Manufacturers also claimed their engines emitted less CO2 - although the green credentials have been challenged because they also release unburnt methane which is itself a very powerful greenhouse gas.
From BBC ● Sep. 8, 2026
The groups accuse the company of not disclosing all chemicals emitted during the fire, posing health risks for local residents.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 30, 2026
Sitting on the runway itself was my most frequently used spacecraft, the Vonnegut Max had already powered up the engines, and they emitted a low, steady roar that filled the hangar.
From "Ready Player One: A Novel" by Ernest Cline
Mr. Costanzo does not think that the gender fluidity of our times has taken away the thrill, even the shock, of the sound of high notes emitting from a male throat.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 9, 2026
"However, instead of fading away, the source continued emitting episodes of soft X-rays for nearly ten minutes."
From Science Daily ● Oct. 8, 2026
Every summer, female glow worms put on a remarkable display, emitting a bright green light to attract males.
From BBC ● Jul. 27, 2026
The cells operate independent of traditional power grids and are highly efficient, Bloom says, emitting only heat and clean water.
From Barron's ● Jul. 1, 2026
There was a blank screen instead of paper, and the whole contraption glowed, emitting a warm but not entirely friendly smell.
From "Flora & Ulysses: The Illuminated Adventures" by Kate DiCamillo
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
