irradiate
verb
ir·ra·di·ate
i-ˈrā-dē-ˌāt 
irradiated; irradiating
1
a
: to affect or treat by radiant energy (such as heat)
specifically
: to treat by irradiation
b
: to cast rays of light upon : illuminate
c
: to enlighten intellectually or spiritually
2
: to emit like rays of light : radiate
irradiating strength and comfort
archaic
: to emit rays : shine
Examples of irradiate in a Sentence
The food was irradiated to kill any germs.
the light from a galaxy of flashing signs irradiates the heart and soul of Las Vegas
Recent Examples on the Web
The sterile flies are irradiated and released en masse, designed to blanket a region experiencing an outbreak.
—
Evan Bush, NBC news, 7 June 2026
Vector control districts serving Los Angeles, Orange and San Bernardino counties have irradiated males and released them in recent years.
—Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 4 June 2026
His team added soil that had been irradiated almost five years earlier, and then closed the circuit.
—Siddhant Pusdekar, Quanta Magazine, 1 June 2026
The team placed a layer of the anisotropic crystal on top of silica and irradiated the two with an electron beam.
—Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 24 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for irradiate
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Evan Bush, NBC news, 7 June 2026
Vector control districts serving Los Angeles, Orange and San Bernardino counties have irradiated males and released them in recent years.
—Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 4 June 2026
His team added soil that had been irradiated almost five years earlier, and then closed the circuit.
—Siddhant Pusdekar, Quanta Magazine, 1 June 2026
The team placed a layer of the anisotropic crystal on top of silica and irradiated the two with an electron beam.
—Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 24 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for irradiate
Cite this Entry
“Irradiate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/irradiate. Accessed 16 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
irradiate
verb
ir·ra·di·ate
ir-ˈād-ē-ˌāt
irradiated; irradiating
1
a
: to cast rays of light on : illuminate
b
: to affect or treat by exposure to radiation (as of ultraviolet light, X-rays, or gamma rays)
2
: to give off like rays of light : radiate
irradiation
noun
-ˌād-ē-ˈā-shən
Medical Definition
irradiate
transitive verb
ir·ra·di·ate
ir-ˈād-ē-ˌāt
irradiated; irradiating
: to affect or treat by radiant energy (as heat)
specifically
: to treat by exposure to radiation (as ultraviolet light or gamma rays)
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