radar

noun

ra·​dar ˈrā-ˌdär 

often attributive

1

: a device or system consisting usually of a synchronized radio transmitter and receiver that emits radio waves and processes their reflections for display and is used especially for detecting and locating objects (such as aircraft) or surface features (as of a planet)

2

: range of notice

fell off the radar after losing their first three games

Examples of radar in a Sentence

The approaching planes were detected by radar.

Recent Examples on the Web

Each drone carries radar systems, optical cameras, and collision-avoidance artificial intelligence. —Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 7 May 2026

In March 2021, property belonging to Flores' father, Ruben Flores, was searched with ground penetrating radar and resulted in the arrest of both Flores men, according to the podcast. —Natalie Neysa Alund, USA Today, 7 May 2026

Shivon Zilis was an under-the-radar executive at Elon Musk’s companies and an OpenAI board member back in 2022. —Hadas Gold, CNN Money, 7 May 2026

Bridgers, meanwhile, has remained more or less off the radar. —Simon Vozick-Levinson, Rolling Stone, 7 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

radio detecting and ranging

First Known Use

1941, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing radar

• anti-radar
• Doppler radar
• fall off the radar
• on someone's radar (screen)
• radar astronomy
• radar beacon
• radar cruise control
• radar detector
• radar gun
• under the radar

Rhymes for radar

• adar
• afar
• ajar
• alar
• ansar
• bazaar
• bizarre
• boxcar
• boyar
• bulbar
• cachar
• cigar

Kids Definition

radar

noun

ra·​dar ˈrā-ˌdär 

: a device that sends out radio waves for detecting and locating an object by the reflection of the radio waves and that may use this reflection to find out the position and speed of the object

Etymology

from radio detecting and ranging