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over-the-air

American  
[oh-ver-thee-air] / ˈoʊ vər ðiˈɛər /

adjective

Radio and Television.
  1. of or relating to any means of broadcast transmission.


Etymology

Origin of over-the-air

First recorded in 1970–75

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.

The Model S also introduced several features that would become Tesla staples, including large computer screens, over-the-air software updates and controversial door handles.

From MarketWatch • Jan. 29, 2026

Rivian will fix the issue with an over-the-air software update and inspect the parts free of charge.

From Barron's • Dec. 3, 2025

Yutong said it stored data from vehicles sold in Europe at a data center in Germany managed by Amazon Web Services, and got consent from customers before delivering over-the-air updates.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 19, 2025

Looking back, one can see that digital video recorders were a transitional technology in the march from over-the-air broadcasting to streaming, which is wiping out the usage of DVRs.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 9, 2025

Pioneered by Tesla, so-called "over-the-air updates" can upgrade a car's software remotely.

From BBC • Jun. 9, 2025