emit

American  

[ih-mit] / ɪˈmɪt /

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.

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emit British  

/ 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

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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

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

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.

Example Sentences

“Reservoirs constitute an important source of methane,” said John Harrison, a professor at Washington State University’s School of the Environment who studies the greenhouse gases that reservoirs emit.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 15, 2026

The suit alleged the turbines emit pollution and hazardous chemicals that have been linked to increases in asthma, respiratory diseases, heart problems and certain cancers.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 14, 2026

"Black holes are known to 'eat' a lot of stuff, but during the active eating process and in their luminous quasar form, they also emit very strong radiation," said Zhu.

From Science Daily • Mar. 30, 2026

Power suppliers have previously been required to keep the operating rate of coal-fired thermal power stations that emit large amounts of carbon dioxide at or below 50 percent.

From Barron's • Mar. 27, 2026

He was so pale that he seemed to emit a pearly glow.

From "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" by J.K. Rowling

Related Words

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