radio

1 of 2

noun

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

radio

2 of 2

verb

radioed; radioing; radios

transitive verb

1

: to send or communicate by radio

2

: to send a radio message to

intransitive verb

: to send or communicate something by radio

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

Noun

Nemecek described Rogers as one of the most influential communicators of the 20th century, whose reach extended across journalism, radio, film and public commentary. —Daily News, 9 June 2026

My husband, inspired by the radio dramas of his childhood, planned the trek with dreams of celebrating, if not re-creating, history. —The New Yorker, New Yorker, 8 June 2026

Verb

Mack radioed the bus operations center for help. —Caitlin McGlade, Charlotte Observer, 2 June 2026

On May 10 the man who lived for speed — and possessed an otherworldly ability to control his car while roaring around a racetrack at more than 200 mph — radioed his crew during the final laps of New York’s Watkins Glen International, requesting that a doctor meet him on his bus. —Johnny Dodd, PEOPLE, 27 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

short for radiotelegraphy

First Known Use

Noun

1907, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1919, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Phrases Containing radio

• clock radio
• radio astronomy
• radio beacon
• radio car
• radio collar
• radio compass
• radio-controlled
• radio frequency
• radio galaxy
• radio range
• radio spectrum
• radio star
• radio-tag
• radio telescope
• radio-ulna
• radio wave
• shock radio/TV
• talk radio
• transistor radio

Rhymes for radio

• acknow
• aglow
• ago
• airglow
• aloe
• altho
• although
• ammo
• backflow
• backhoe
• banjo
• barbeau

Kids 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 adjective

1

: 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 form

1

: 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"