byte

noun

: a unit of computer information or data-storage capacity that consists of a group of eight bits and that is used especially to represent an alphanumeric character compare word entry 1 sense 10

Examples of byte in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The 8-bit byte enabled a computer to run software that produced both upper- and lower-case characters. IEEE Spectrum, 9 Dec. 2022 If a cloud provider of a decoupled videoconferencing service is breached, all that’s visible is the flow of encrypted bytes to and from other nameless cloud servers. Barath Raghavan, IEEE Spectrum, 5 Nov. 2023 The platform formerly known as Twitter still takes a surprisingly long time to load a few bytes of data — at least, if that data leads to a platform that Elon Musk might consider a competitor. Simon Hurtz, The Verge, 15 Sep. 2023 Bits, bytes and frames Modern digital TV uses different information streams. Jay Weitzen, The Conversation, 5 Dec. 2022 Simply put, assembly programming moves your data byte by byte through hardware registers and memory. Andrew Hudson, Ars Technica, 14 Mar. 2022 Guarding Your Data: A Commitment, Not an Option In the digital age, every byte of data transmitted raises eyebrows and concerns. Jon Stojan, USA TODAY, 2 Sep. 2023 Only a short jump from vore is the transhumanist fantasy of having your brain uploaded into the cloud, outrunning death by being absorbed into another system and transformed into bits and bytes. Kelly Pendergrast, WIRED, 14 July 2023 More:Top Indiana angler's secret weapon takes a byte out of the mystery of catching big 'uns The Indiana Department of Natural Resources award program, started in 1963, is a way to get Hoosiers excited about fishing in the state. The Indianapolis Star, 12 July 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'byte.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

perhaps alteration of bite entry 2

First Known Use

1956, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of byte was in 1956

Dictionary Entries Near byte

Cite this Entry

“Byte.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/byte. Accessed 10 Dec. 2023.

Kids Definition

byte

noun
: a group of eight bits that a computer handles as a unit
Etymology

possibly an altered form of bite

More from Merriam-Webster on byte

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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