1
: of, relating to, or operated by radiant energy
2
: of or relating to electric currents or phenomena (such as electromagnetic radiation) of frequencies between about 3000 hertz and 300 gigahertz
3
a
: of, relating to, or used in radio or a radio set
b
: specializing in radio or associated with the radio industry
c(1)
: transmitted by radio
(2)
: making or participating in radio broadcasts
d
: controlled or directed by radio
plural radios
1
a
: the wireless transmission and reception of electric impulses or signals by means of electromagnetic waves
b
: the use of these waves for the wireless transmission of electric impulses into which sound is converted
2
: a radio message
3
: a radio receiving set
4
a
: a radio transmitting station
b
: a radio broadcasting organization
c
: the radio broadcasting industry
d
: communication by radio
radioed; radioing; radios
: to send or communicate something by radio
see radi-
Examples of radio in a Sentence
Noun
The news was sent by radio.
I listen to the radio all the time.
I heard the news on the radio.
There's a problem with the car's radio.
The radio was playing very loudly.
The pilot's radio wasn't working.
Verb
The police radioed for backup.
The stranded sailors were radioing for help.
The pilot radioed in to the control tower.
The police radioed a report back to the station.
They radioed the Coast Guard for help.
Recent Examples on the Web
Gary Gerard Hamilton, Chicago Tribune, 22 Jan. 2023
Pence is a 61-year-old former Indiana governor, former member of Congress, an ex-radio host and an evangelical Christian.
—Arkansas Online, 8 Oct. 2020
Pence is a 61-year-old former Indiana governor and ex-radio host, an evangelical Christian known for his Midwestern charm and unwavering loyalty to Trump.
—Anchorage Daily News, 8 Oct. 2020
Pence is a 61-year-old former Indiana governor and ex-radio host, an evangelical Christian known for his folksy charm and unwavering loyalty to Trump.
—Steve Peoples, Star Tribune, 7 Oct. 2020
The vice president is a 61-year-old former Indiana governor and ex-radio host, an evangelical Christian known for his folksy charm and unwavering loyalty to Trump.
—The Associated Press, NOLA.com, 7 Oct. 2020
Stayton Bonner, Rolling Stone, 21 Apr. 2024
In a radio interview earlier this week, Spartans coach Tom Izzo mentioned SDSU as a possible landing spot along with Cal, Colorado and Washington.
—Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Apr. 2024
Minutes earlier, a police radio had started chattering across town with its next call: There was a domestic disturbance a few blocks away from Amante Pizza, police said.
—USA TODAY, 20 Apr. 2024
The radio silence was notable after weeks of U.S. officials publicly urging Israel to show restraint.
—Anne Flaherty, ABC News, 19 Apr. 2024
There were at least five people inside the residence when the suspect allegedly stabbed a woman with a kitchen knife, according to archived radio dispatches reviewed by The Sacramento Bee.
—Ishani Desai, Sacramento Bee, 19 Apr. 2024
Current vp of radio promotion Ali Matkosky will soon exit the company for a new role with Relative Music Group, while director of promotion Southeast Tyler Waugh will take over the role at the label, home of Morgan Wallen, HARDY and Dallas Smith.
—Marc Schneider, Billboard, 19 Apr. 2024
The 1 percent figure refers to direct funding, but a much larger percentage of its revenue comes from local public radio stations, which use federal funds to purchase programming produced by NPR.
—The Editors, National Review, 18 Apr. 2024
From the sandwich shop to the radio airwaves, how the solar eclipse united a Vermont town.
—USA TODAY, 9 Apr. 2024
David Kushner, WIRED, 4 Apr. 2024
Over the weekend, the U.S. private spacecraft Odysseus, which launched to the moon on February 15, was declared to be permanently dormant after failing to radio from the lunar south pole.
—Christian Thorsberg, Smithsonian Magazine, 27 Mar. 2024
As the chaos caused major delays, Academy staffers began radioing among themselves that the red carpet was being kept open later than expected.
—Kevin Dolak, The Hollywood Reporter, 10 Mar. 2024
Ships in distress had radioed out dits and dahs from the era of the Titanic to the era of Titanic.
—Saahil Desai, The Atlantic, 2 Mar. 2024
The controller worked in a dark radar room, radioing commands to pilots and monitoring a screen with moving dots that represented planes flying across the region.
—Sydney Ember, New York Times, 2 Dec. 2023
The survivors in the boat were able to radio the overhead crew with still-functional equipment after the teams spotted their vessel and covered life raft, per the release.
—Christina Coulter, Fox News, 23 Oct. 2023
Lamb says Teran zipped up the tent, prompting him to radio for an officer with a pepper-ball gun.
—Hilary Beaumont, Rolling Stone, 16 Oct. 2023
In the helicopter footage provided by the Ohio State Highway Patrol, Ilya is seen pushing his way through the field, while the pilot can be heard radioing down to ground searchers that the boy had been spotted.
—Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA TODAY, 26 July 2023
Adjective
The first night of two Apollo weekend shows presented by SiriusXM, featured the 36-year-old ripping off songs at a frantic pace — most with just a verse and chorus — satisfying day-one fans with fan-favorite, deep non-radio cuts as well as those only familiar with his No. 1 hits.
—Gary Gerard Hamilton, Chicago Tribune, 22 Jan. 2023
Pence is a 61-year-old former Indiana governor, former member of Congress, an ex-radio host and an evangelical Christian.
—Arkansas Online, 8 Oct. 2020
Pence is a 61-year-old former Indiana governor and ex-radio host, an evangelical Christian known for his Midwestern charm and unwavering loyalty to Trump.
—Anchorage Daily News, 8 Oct. 2020
Pence is a 61-year-old former Indiana governor and ex-radio host, an evangelical Christian known for his folksy charm and unwavering loyalty to Trump.
—Steve Peoples, Star Tribune, 7 Oct. 2020
The vice president is a 61-year-old former Indiana governor and ex-radio host, an evangelical Christian known for his folksy charm and unwavering loyalty to Trump.
—The Associated Press, NOLA.com, 7 Oct. 2020
Noun
But Feldman deemed any press good press, doubling down on radio promotions and outlandish stunts.
—Stayton Bonner, Rolling Stone, 21 Apr. 2024
In a radio interview earlier this week, Spartans coach Tom Izzo mentioned SDSU as a possible landing spot along with Cal, Colorado and Washington.
—Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Apr. 2024
Minutes earlier, a police radio had started chattering across town with its next call: There was a domestic disturbance a few blocks away from Amante Pizza, police said.
—USA TODAY, 20 Apr. 2024
The radio silence was notable after weeks of U.S. officials publicly urging Israel to show restraint.
—Anne Flaherty, ABC News, 19 Apr. 2024
There were at least five people inside the residence when the suspect allegedly stabbed a woman with a kitchen knife, according to archived radio dispatches reviewed by The Sacramento Bee.
—Ishani Desai, Sacramento Bee, 19 Apr. 2024
Current vp of radio promotion Ali Matkosky will soon exit the company for a new role with Relative Music Group, while director of promotion Southeast Tyler Waugh will take over the role at the label, home of Morgan Wallen, HARDY and Dallas Smith.
—Marc Schneider, Billboard, 19 Apr. 2024
The 1 percent figure refers to direct funding, but a much larger percentage of its revenue comes from local public radio stations, which use federal funds to purchase programming produced by NPR.
—The Editors, National Review, 18 Apr. 2024
From the sandwich shop to the radio airwaves, how the solar eclipse united a Vermont town.
—USA TODAY, 9 Apr. 2024
Verb
Throughout it all, Marchant would radio each day and give the OK message back to base.
—David Kushner, WIRED, 4 Apr. 2024
Over the weekend, the U.S. private spacecraft Odysseus, which launched to the moon on February 15, was declared to be permanently dormant after failing to radio from the lunar south pole.
—Christian Thorsberg, Smithsonian Magazine, 27 Mar. 2024
As the chaos caused major delays, Academy staffers began radioing among themselves that the red carpet was being kept open later than expected.
—Kevin Dolak, The Hollywood Reporter, 10 Mar. 2024
Ships in distress had radioed out dits and dahs from the era of the Titanic to the era of Titanic.
—Saahil Desai, The Atlantic, 2 Mar. 2024
The controller worked in a dark radar room, radioing commands to pilots and monitoring a screen with moving dots that represented planes flying across the region.
—Sydney Ember, New York Times, 2 Dec. 2023
The survivors in the boat were able to radio the overhead crew with still-functional equipment after the teams spotted their vessel and covered life raft, per the release.
—Christina Coulter, Fox News, 23 Oct. 2023
Lamb says Teran zipped up the tent, prompting him to radio for an officer with a pepper-ball gun.
—Hilary Beaumont, Rolling Stone, 16 Oct. 2023
In the helicopter footage provided by the Ohio State Highway Patrol, Ilya is seen pushing his way through the field, while the pilot can be heard radioing down to ground searchers that the boy had been spotted.
—Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA TODAY, 26 July 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'radio.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Articles Related to radio
Dictionary Entries Near radio
Cite this Entry
“Radio.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/radio. Accessed 24 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
radio
1 of 4 noun
ra·dio
ˈrād-ē-ˌō 
plural radios
1
: the sending or receiving of signals using electromagnetic waves without a connecting wire
radio includes television and radar
especially
: the use of these waves to carry sound that has been changed into electrical energy
2
: a radio receiving set
a transistor radio
3
: the radio broadcasting industry
radio
2 of 4 adjective1
: of, relating to, or operated by radiant energy especially at radio frequencies
2
: of, relating to, or used in radio or a radio
radio commercials
radio
3 of 4 verb
: to communicate or send a message to by radio
radio-
4 of 4 combining form1
: radiant energy : radiation
radioactive
2
: radioactive
radiocarbon
Etymology
Noun
a shortened form of radiotelegraphy, literally, "telegraphy by rays"; radio- from French radio- "radial, radiating," from Latin radius "ray, beam, spoke" — related to radiate, radius, ray entry 2
Combining form
derived from Latin radius "ray, beam, spoke"
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