radiate

play

verb ra·di·ate \ ˈrā-dē-ˌāt \

Definition of radiate

radiated; radiating

intransitive verb

1 :to proceed in a direct line from or toward a center

2 :to send out rays :shine brightly

3 a :to issue in or as if in rays

b :to evolve by adaptive radiation

transitive verb

1 :to send out in or as if in rays

2 :irradiate, illuminate

3 :to spread abroad or around as if from a center

See radiate defined for English-language learners

See radiate defined for kids

Examples of radiate in a Sentence

The pain was radiating down my arm.
The sun radiates heat and light.
Heat radiates from the sun.

Recent Examples of radiate from the Web

Championship teams radiate unselfishness and, in most cases, great depth.

— rich mayor, Naperville Sun, "Girls volleyball preview: Lilly Johnson a launching pad for Benet's offense," 24 Aug. 2017
Built sometime in the 1840s by Ignace Pleyel, the beautiful 82-key specimen seemed to radiate the energy and sadness that characterized much of Chopin’s music.

— lucas peterson, New York Times, "In Warsaw, With Chopin as Muse," 23 Aug. 2017
Salmon are tough beasts that since the Pleistocene have radiated over a wide geography, with brilliant adaptive capacity and an adventuresome proclivity to stray to colonize new habitats.

— lynda v. mapes, The Seattle Times, "Steelhead struggling home in record low numbers," 18 Aug. 2017
These patches can radiate outwardly 10 feet or more in a year in any direction.

— dennis pillion | dpillion@al.com, AL.com, "This 'vicious' invasive plant burns hot enough to kill trees and stabs them with its roots," 13 Aug. 2017
Renovations will include four new softball fields that will radiate out from a central concessions stand and bathroom facility, LED lighting throughout the park and all new walking paths.

— Daily Southtown, "Work underway on Oak Lawn park project," 9 Aug. 2017
But tremors radiated through markets. Bets on a Venezuelan default are climbing and the implied probability of a missed payment over the next year has risen to 64 percent, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.

— fabiola zerpa, Bloomberg.com, "Venezuelan Arrests Show Maduro Moving Fast to Snatch Power," 1 Aug. 2017
Radiating outwards, the EMP fries electronics in southern Canada and almost all of the United States save Alaska and Hawaii, both safe below the horizon.

— The Economist, "The disaster that could follow from a flash in the sky," 13 July 2017
Riippa developed flu-like symptoms and a sharp pain that radiated up and down his leg.

— ajc homepage, ajc, "Man doesn't remember getting brown recluse spider bite that lands him in hospital," 13 July 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'radiate.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of radiate

Latin radiatus, past participle of radiare, from radius ray

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: circa 1619

See Words from the same year

radiate Synonyms

Synonyms

branch, fan (out), ray

Antonyms

concentrate, converge, focus, funnel, meet

Related Words

diffuse, dispel, disperse, dissipate; fork, stem; diverge, divide, part, ramify, separate, split, uncouple, unlink, unyoke; scatter, splay, spread; arise, derive, emanate, flow, issue, proceed, spring

Near Antonyms

approach, close in (on), near; center (on), centralize; connect, couple, join, link, unite

radiate

play

adjective ra·di·ate \ ˈrā-dē-ət , -ˌāt \

Definition of radiate

:having rays or radial parts: such as

a :having ray flowers

b :characterized by radial symmetry :radially symmetrical

—

radiately

adverb

First Known Use of radiate

1668

Other Biology Terms

autochthonous, fecund, homunculus, phylogeny, substrate

RADIATE Defined for English Language Learners

radiate

play

verb

Definition of radiate for English Language Learners

: to go out in a direct line from a central point or area
: to move in a specified direction from a source
: to send out (something, such as heat or energy) in rays

RADIATE Defined for Kids

radiate

play

verb ra·di·ate \ ˈrā-dē-ˌāt \

Definition of radiate for Students

radiated; radiating

1 :to send out rays :shine The sun was radiating in the sky.

2 :to come forth in the form of rays

Light radiates from shining bodies.

3 :to go out in a direct line from a center

Spokes radiate from the center of the wheel.

4 :to spread around from or as if from a center

Word radiated that Royce McNabb had sent Ina-Rae Gage a valentine.
—Richard Peck, A Year Down Yonder

5 :to show very clearly

She radiates confidence.

Medical Dictionary

radiate

play

verb ra·di·ate \ ˈrād-ē-ˌāt \

medical Definition of radiate

radiated; radiating

intransitive verb

:to issue in or as if in rays :spread from a central point

back pain radiating to both upper legs
—Tony Miksanek

transitive verb

:irradiate

radiate

play

adjective ra·di·ate \ ˈrād-ē-ət, -ē-ˌāt \

medical Definition of radiate

1 :having rays or radial parts

2 :characterized by radial symmetry :radially symmetrical

Learn More about radiate

See words that rhyme with radiate Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for radiate Spanish Central: Translation of radiate Nglish: Translation of radiate for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of radiate for Arabic speakers

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up radiate? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show

radiate

Definition of radiate

Explore M-W

Examples of radiate in a Sentence

Recent Examples of radiate from the Web

Origin and Etymology of radiate

radiate Synonyms

Synonyms

Antonyms

Related Words

Near Antonyms

radiate

Definition of radiate

radiately

First Known Use of radiate

Other Biology Terms

RADIATE Defined for English Language Learners

radiate

Definition of radiate for English Language Learners

RADIATE Defined for Kids

radiate

Definition of radiate for Students

Medical Dictionary

radiate

medical Definition of radiate

radiate

medical Definition of radiate

Learn More about radiate

Seen and Heard

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games

Breathing Life Into 'Inspire'

Trending: Kim Jong Un: Trump a 'Dotard'

These Are Fighting Words

Merriam-Webster's New Words Quiz—Fall 2017 Edition!

Words of the Year: 1066