radiate

American  

[rey-dee-eyt, rey-dee-it, -eyt] / ˈreɪ diˌeɪt, ˈreɪ di ɪt, -ˌeɪt /

verb (used without object)

• radiates,
  present (3rd person singular)
• radiated,
  past participle,  past
• radiating
  present participle

1. to extend, spread, or move like rays or radii from a center.

2. to emit rays, as of light or heat; irradiate.

3. to issue or proceed in rays.

4. (of persons) to project or glow with cheerfulness, joy, etc..

   She simply radiates with good humor.

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verb (used with object)

• radiates,
  present (3rd person singular)
• radiated,
  past participle,  past
• radiating
  present participle

1. to emit in rays; disseminate, as from a center.

2. (of persons) to project (joy, goodwill, etc.).

adjective

1. radiating from a center.

2. having rays extending from a central point or part.

   a coin showing a radiate head.

3. radiating symmetrically.

radiate British  

verb

1. Also: eradiate.  to emit (heat, light, or some other form of radiation) or (of heat, light, etc) to be emitted as radiation

2. (intr) (of lines, beams, etc) to spread out from a centre or be arranged in a radial pattern

3. (tr) (of a person) to show (happiness, health, etc) to a great degree

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adjective

1. having rays; radiating

2. (of a capitulum) consisting of ray florets

3. (of animals or their parts) showing radial symmetry

4. adorned or decorated with rays

   a radiate head on a coin

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• radiability
  noun
• radiableness
  noun
• reradiate
  verb
• interradiate
  verb (used without object)
• antiradiating
  adjective
• multiradiate
  adjective
• multiradiated
  adjective
• nonradiating
  adjective
• radiable
  adjective
• subradiate
  adjective
• unradiated
  adjective
• radiably
  adverb
• radiately
  adverb

Inflected Forms

Participles

• radiating
  present
• radiated
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• radiate
  simple
• radiates
  simple
• have radiated
  perfect
• has radiated
  perfect
• am radiating
  progressive
• are radiating
  progressive
• is radiating
  progressive
• have been radiating
  perfect progressive
• has been radiating
  perfect progressive

Past

• radiated
  simple
• had radiated
  perfect
• was radiating
  progressive
• were radiating
  progressive
• had been radiating
  perfect progressive

Future

• will radiate
  simple
• will have radiated
  perfect
• will be radiating
  progressive
• will have been radiating
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of radiate

First recorded in 1610–20, radiate is from the Latin word radiātus (past participle of radiāre to radiate light, shine). See radiant, -ate ¹

Explanation

When something radiates, it sends out waves or rays. The sun radiates light and warmth. If your house has a radiator, that might help you remember this word, because the radiator radiates warmth. Radiating is a concept that applies to anything that emits rays or waves. People camping make a fire so it can radiate light and heat. Our bodies radiate some heat, but not nearly as much as something as hot as a stove. If a nuclear reactor is damaged, it could radiate dangerous nuclear energy — or radiation.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

radiate radiates radiated radiating

Cordido's eyes can't help but radiate with gratitude when he speaks about the volunteer rescuers who pulled him from the ruins of Venezuela's double earthquake, which killed more than 2,600 people.

From Barron's ● Jul. 4, 2026

As I ambled past groups doing yoga and vacationing families lounging on the grass, pain started to radiate through my ankles and up my shinbones before settling uncomfortably in my hips.

From Slate ● Jun. 5, 2026

Although increased CO2 helps the stratosphere radiate heat more effectively, the resulting cooler temperatures mean the Earth system ultimately releases less infrared energy into space overall.

From Science Daily ● May 14, 2026

“It’s hard to put it into words, but John Ford’s works all kind of radiate with the warmth that must have been a part of the set,” Kurosawa says.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 6, 2026

‘Your ... your scent would be difficult to discern. The ruins always radiate the power of those two gods.’

From "Blood of Olympus" by Rick Riordan

Splayed in an armchair in a Midtown Manhattan hotel with views of a fog-shrouded Rockefeller Center, Richards still radiates roguish, live-wire energy at 82.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 6, 2026

As a “heat dome” radiates across the US east coast, fans are turning up in record heat to cheer on their teams in the middle of the World Cup.

From BBC ● Jul. 1, 2026

Teenagers everywhere fell under the spell of Rice’s vampires in the mid-‘80s with an ardor that AMC’s “The Vampire Lestat” radiates through the devotion of his superfans.

From Salon ● Jun. 13, 2026

Rising housing and healthcare costs have saddled retirees with higher-than-average inflation since late 2022, and they are projected to keep rising faster as an energy spike radiates through the economy.

From Barron's ● Apr. 15, 2026

I’m certain the magic seashell—his most beloved possession, he’d said!—around my neck radiates joy.

From "I'll Give You the Sun" by Jandy Nelson

At its peak, it temporarily radiated with the brilliance of about 10 billion suns.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 28, 2026

As the Sunday sun set over Sunderland, her performance radiated with the warmth it left behind.

From BBC ● May 25, 2026

In 1967, his black evening gown with cape radiated simplicity in form and draping even as it also referenced the attire of Catholic priests.

From Salon ● May 17, 2026

Epstein, in a schlumpy gray sweatshirt and sweatpants, radiated energy as he alone stood at the staircase, surveying the room.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 20, 2026

He radiated sorrow and bitterness, as if he were so wrapped up in his own misery that he resented Annabeth for trying to make him focus on anything else.

From "The House of Hades" by Rick Riordan

While the impact will not be visible from Earth with the naked eye, people with access to a sophisticated telescope may be able to see a flash radiating off the Moon's surface, Bothwell said.

From BBC ● Aug. 4, 2026

Instead of simply radiating outward, thermal energy can effectively tunnel across the narrow gap through electromagnetic waves.

From Science Daily ● Jun. 8, 2026

Buses are infrequent and haphazard, while the subway has only six trundling lines radiating out from the centre, making connections impossible without going all the way in and then all the way out again.

From Barron's ● May 27, 2026

And Mr. McKellen is mildly avuncular, radiating a stealthy, benevolent attitude.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 22, 2026

It still glowed, and I felt a gentle pulse of something warm and powerful radiating from the shimmering petals.

From "City of the Plague God" by Sarwat Chadda

Related Words

• beam
• diffuse
• diverge
• emanate
• emit
• gleam
• light up
• shine
• transmit