broad·cast
ˈbrȯd-ˌkast 
broadcast also broadcasted; broadcasting
1
: to scatter or sow (seed or something similar) over a broad area
broadcasting seed
broadcasting fertilizer on a lawn
2
: to make widely known
A man who—make no mistake—cares deeply, but doesn't feel the need to broadcast it.—
Allison Glock
Allison Glock3
: to send out or transmit (something, such as a program) by means of radio or television or by streaming over the Internet
an event being broadcast live on television
Poker was first broadcast on television in 1993, but it wasn't until 2002 that the game became watchable.—Josh Tyrangiel
Josh Tyrangiel… part of a campaign to get people to go online to a fashion show that was broadcast live over the Internet.—David Noack
David Noack1
: to transmit a broadcast
Among the group's claims to fame is that it was the first band to broadcast live over the Internet.—John Markoff
John Markoff2
: to speak or perform on a broadcast program
plural broadcasts
1
: a program that is broadcast on radio or television or over the Internet
listening to a radio broadcast
a live nationwide broadcast
2
: the act of transmitting sound or images by radio or television
the broadcast of court proceedings
Less than two years ago, the broadcast of digital television—from transmitter tower to home antenna—was considered to be science fiction.—George Mannes
George Mannes3
: a casting or scattering in all directions (as of seed from the hand in sowing)
… those of us who oppose the wanton broadcast of pesticides and inorganic fertilizers on lawn and garden …—Maxine Kumin
Maxine Kumin1
: cast or scattered in all directions
2
: made public by means of radio or television
3
: of or relating to radio or television broadcasting
Examples of broadcast in a Sentence
Verb
The station broadcasts the symphony live every Friday night.
The interview was broadcast from London.
If you tell her anything about your personal life she'll broadcast it to everyone in the office.
broadcast fertilizer on the lawn
Noun
Did you hear the broadcast of last night's game?
The judge decided to allow broadcast of the trial.
Recent Examples on the WebSheila Yount, arkansasonline.com, 11 Apr. 2024
The initiative brought together roughly half the population of the Maldives across 275 islands for beach cleanups, underwater cleanups, and an Ocean Lesson broadcast online and on national TV.
—Alessia Glaviano, Vogue, 10 Apr. 2024
The game will kick off at 7 p.m. at Faurot Field, broadcast on the SEC Network.
—Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 9 Apr. 2024
The series is set in the capital of Croatia, Zagreb, and will be broadcast on HRT1, starting in the fall of 2024.
—Leo Barraclough, Variety, 9 Apr. 2024
On the album’s release date and during the weekend following, the station plans to broadcast the popstar’s full album.
—Kalia Richardson, Rolling Stone, 8 Apr. 2024
How to Watch the 2024 CMT Awards: Air Date and Time
The 2024 CMT Music Awards will be broadcast live on CBS and will stream simultaneously on Paramount+ with Showtime tonight at 5 p.m. PT/8 p.m.
—Danielle Directo-Meston, The Hollywood Reporter, 7 Apr. 2024
Powerball drawings are broadcast live every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday at 10:59 p.m. from the Florida Lottery draw studio in Tallahassee.
—Tanya Wildt, Detroit Free Press, 7 Apr. 2024
The channel will broadcast racing from Oaklawn Park and Gulfstream Park, along with other tracks featured across FanDuelTV's broadcasts.
—Jay Ginsbach, Forbes, 29 Mar. 2024
Jack Bantock, CNN, 11 Apr. 2024
Kansas City Royals fans will hear a new voice on the radio broadcast this weekend.
—Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 11 Apr. 2024
Keep track of all the renewals and cancellations at the networks with THR’s broadcast scorecard.
—Rick Porter, The Hollywood Reporter, 11 Apr. 2024
Fees like regional sports programming or broadcast retransmission consent can no longer be obscured.
—USA TODAY, 10 Apr. 2024
The long-running sketch comedy show, currently in its 49th season, broadcasts live every Saturday night on NBC at 11:30 p.m. ET..
—Anna Tingley, Variety, 9 Apr. 2024
They are also simulcast on every major cable and broadcast network, a throwback to a more quaint media age when Americans absorbed information from the same group of news sources.
—Michael M. Grynbaum, New York Times, 9 Apr. 2024
The broadcast is airing on NASA TV, and on NASA’s website, and will include commentary from experts and astronauts on the International Space Station.
—Quartz Staff, Quartz, 8 Apr. 2024
Click here to access the printable version of today’s CNN 10 transcript
CNN 10 serves a growing audience interested in compact on-demand news broadcasts ideal for explanation seekers on the go or in the classroom.
—CNN, 28 Mar. 2024
Michael Schneider, Variety, 29 Aug. 2023
The award, named for the legendary television journalist and presented by the Radio Television Digital News Association, recognizes broadcast and digital reporting across the nation.
—Shaun McKinnon, The Arizona Republic, 16 Aug. 2023
No non-broadcast network has hit that record.
—Clayton Davis, Variety, 22 June 2022
Savannah Guthrie exits ‘Today’ mid-broadcast and tests positive for the coronavirus — again.
—Los Angeles Times, 1 Mar. 2023
Kotb’s co-anchor, Savannah Guthrie, was also back in the studio Monday after exiting the show mid-broadcast last week and testing positive for COVID-19.
—Christi Carrasstaff Writer, Los Angeles Times, 6 Mar. 2023
The Resident co-creator and executive producer Amy Holden Jones and Matt Nix (Burn Notice) — who just signed a broadcast direct deal with Fox — are behind Archie & Pete, a buddy-cop drama whose logline reads a bit like a gender-reversed Bones.
—Rick Porter, The Hollywood Reporter, 16 Feb. 2023
Other trends include pubcasters pushing and encouraging new viewing habits, like pre-broadcast.
—Liza Foreman, Variety, 17 Oct. 2022
Smith is Tuesday’s guest on the talk show, but a pre-broadcast clip of their duet with Clarkson is already taking our will-this-week-ever-end negativity and turning it into what can only be described as a can-do-anything attitude.
—Sandra Gonzalez, CNN, 11 Oct. 2022
Verb
Associated Press text, photo, graphic, audio and/or video material shall not be published, broadcast, rewritten for broadcast or publication or redistributed directly or indirectly in any medium.
—Sheila Yount, arkansasonline.com, 11 Apr. 2024
The initiative brought together roughly half the population of the Maldives across 275 islands for beach cleanups, underwater cleanups, and an Ocean Lesson broadcast online and on national TV.
—Alessia Glaviano, Vogue, 10 Apr. 2024
The game will kick off at 7 p.m. at Faurot Field, broadcast on the SEC Network.
—Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 9 Apr. 2024
The series is set in the capital of Croatia, Zagreb, and will be broadcast on HRT1, starting in the fall of 2024.
—Leo Barraclough, Variety, 9 Apr. 2024
On the album’s release date and during the weekend following, the station plans to broadcast the popstar’s full album.
—Kalia Richardson, Rolling Stone, 8 Apr. 2024
How to Watch the 2024 CMT Awards: Air Date and Time
The 2024 CMT Music Awards will be broadcast live on CBS and will stream simultaneously on Paramount+ with Showtime tonight at 5 p.m. PT/8 p.m.
—Danielle Directo-Meston, The Hollywood Reporter, 7 Apr. 2024
Powerball drawings are broadcast live every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday at 10:59 p.m. from the Florida Lottery draw studio in Tallahassee.
—Tanya Wildt, Detroit Free Press, 7 Apr. 2024
The channel will broadcast racing from Oaklawn Park and Gulfstream Park, along with other tracks featured across FanDuelTV's broadcasts.
—Jay Ginsbach, Forbes, 29 Mar. 2024
Noun
The opening two rounds will be shown from 2pm BST, while the weekend’s broadcasts begin from 3pm BST.
—Jack Bantock, CNN, 11 Apr. 2024
Kansas City Royals fans will hear a new voice on the radio broadcast this weekend.
—Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 11 Apr. 2024
Keep track of all the renewals and cancellations at the networks with THR’s broadcast scorecard.
—Rick Porter, The Hollywood Reporter, 11 Apr. 2024
Fees like regional sports programming or broadcast retransmission consent can no longer be obscured.
—USA TODAY, 10 Apr. 2024
The long-running sketch comedy show, currently in its 49th season, broadcasts live every Saturday night on NBC at 11:30 p.m. ET..
—Anna Tingley, Variety, 9 Apr. 2024
They are also simulcast on every major cable and broadcast network, a throwback to a more quaint media age when Americans absorbed information from the same group of news sources.
—Michael M. Grynbaum, New York Times, 9 Apr. 2024
The broadcast is airing on NASA TV, and on NASA’s website, and will include commentary from experts and astronauts on the International Space Station.
—Quartz Staff, Quartz, 8 Apr. 2024
Click here to access the printable version of today’s CNN 10 transcript
CNN 10 serves a growing audience interested in compact on-demand news broadcasts ideal for explanation seekers on the go or in the classroom.
—CNN, 28 Mar. 2024
Adjective
The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences has tapped broadcast journalist icon Dan Rather, as well as veteran network correspondents John Quiñones and David Martin to be inducted into its annual Gold Circle honor society.
—Michael Schneider, Variety, 29 Aug. 2023
The award, named for the legendary television journalist and presented by the Radio Television Digital News Association, recognizes broadcast and digital reporting across the nation.
—Shaun McKinnon, The Arizona Republic, 16 Aug. 2023
No non-broadcast network has hit that record.
—Clayton Davis, Variety, 22 June 2022
Savannah Guthrie exits ‘Today’ mid-broadcast and tests positive for the coronavirus — again.
—Los Angeles Times, 1 Mar. 2023
Kotb’s co-anchor, Savannah Guthrie, was also back in the studio Monday after exiting the show mid-broadcast last week and testing positive for COVID-19.
—Christi Carrasstaff Writer, Los Angeles Times, 6 Mar. 2023
The Resident co-creator and executive producer Amy Holden Jones and Matt Nix (Burn Notice) — who just signed a broadcast direct deal with Fox — are behind Archie & Pete, a buddy-cop drama whose logline reads a bit like a gender-reversed Bones.
—Rick Porter, The Hollywood Reporter, 16 Feb. 2023
Other trends include pubcasters pushing and encouraging new viewing habits, like pre-broadcast.
—Liza Foreman, Variety, 17 Oct. 2022
Smith is Tuesday’s guest on the talk show, but a pre-broadcast clip of their duet with Clarkson is already taking our will-this-week-ever-end negativity and turning it into what can only be described as a can-do-anything attitude.
—Sandra Gonzalez, CNN, 11 Oct. 2022
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'broadcast.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
Verb
1744, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1
Noun
1758, in the meaning defined at sense 3
Adjective
1764, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Adverb
1743, in the meaning defined above
Phrases Containing broadcast
Articles Related to broadcast
Dictionary Entries Near broadcast
Cite this Entry
“Broadcast.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/broadcast. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
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Kids Definition
broadcast
1 of 4 adjective
broad·cast
ˈbrȯd-ˌkast
1
: scattered in all directions
2
: made public by means of radio or television
broadcast
2 of 4 verb
broadcast also broadcasted; broadcasting
1
: to scatter or sow over a broad area
2
: to make widely known
a secret that I wouldn't want broadcast to the whole world
3
: to send out by radio or television
broadcaster
noun
broadcast
3 of 4 adverb
: so as to spread far and wide
broadcast
4 of 4 noun1
: the act of sending sound or images by radio or television
2
: a single radio or television program
More from Merriam-Webster on broadcast
Nglish: Translation of broadcast for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of broadcast for Arabic Speakers
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