re·ra·di·ate
(ˌ)rē-ˈrā-dē-ˌāt 
reradiated; reradiating; reradiates
: to radiate again or anew
especially
: to emit (energy) in the form of radiation after absorbing incident radiation
: radiation again or anew
specifically
: radiation emitted by a body or system as a result of its absorbing radiation incident on it
the intensity of the sun's radiation … not dissipated by reradiation —
Experiment Station Record
Experiment Station Record Examples of reradiate in a Sentence
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Tom Yulsman, Discover Magazine, 6 Mar. 2018
Table salt forms cubic crystals because its atoms share electrons in that configuration; silver shines because its electrons absorb visible light and reradiate it back.
—Quanta Magazine, 28 Feb. 2018
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Verb
Similarly, after absorbing solar energy, Earth's surface, and the atmosphere itself, both reradiate infrared energy that ultimately finds its way to the top of the atmosphere and out into space.
—Tom Yulsman, Discover Magazine, 6 Mar. 2018
Table salt forms cubic crystals because its atoms share electrons in that configuration; silver shines because its electrons absorb visible light and reradiate it back.
—Quanta Magazine, 28 Feb. 2018
Cite this Entry
“Reradiate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/reradiate. Accessed 25 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
reradiate
verb
re·ra·di·ate
(ˈ)rē-ˈrād-ē-ˌāt
: to radiate anew
the ground reradiates the heat obtained from the sun
Medical Definition
reradiate
transitive verb
re·ra·di·ate
(ˈ)rē-ˈrād-ē-ˌāt
reradiated; reradiating
: to radiate again or anew
especially
: to emit (energy) in the form of radiation after absorbing incident radiation
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