: a method or device for detecting and locating objects especially underwater by means of sound waves sent out to be reflected by the objects
also
: a device for detecting the presence of a vessel (such as a submarine) by the sound it emits in water
Examples of sonar in a Sentence
They detected the submarine by using sonar.
Recent Examples on the Web
After search efforts were halted, remote vehicles were sent down with sonar that plotted what exactly fell deep into the Patapsco River after the collapse, Butler said Wednesday.
—
Dalia Faheid, CNN, 31 Mar. 2024
Fishermen using sonar equipment found a vehicle at the bottom of an Illinois river that is connected to the 1976 disappearance of two men.
—Minyvonne Burke, NBC News, 14 Mar. 2024
Though Huff is known particularly for his prowess with forward-facing sonar, he’s also had a lot of experience fishing for spawners on Table Rock and Bull Shoals in Arkansas and Missouri.
—Shaye Baker, Field & Stream, 21 Feb. 2024
Then, in late November, the crew was reviewing some of the data the underwater vehicle’s sonar sensors had collected.
—Praveena Somasundaram, Washington Post, 31 Jan. 2024
Now, researchers equipped with sonar have analyzed its charred remains, unraveling some of the long-standing mysteries surrounding the medieval ship, according to a study published on Jan. 16 in the Journal of Maritime Archaeology.
—Brendan Rascius, Miami Herald, 29 Jan. 2024
Sunshine State Sonar is a volunteer search and recovery team based in Florida that specializes in sonar and underwater technology.
—Emily Mae Czachor, CBS News, 2 Jan. 2024
The sonar emits multiple overlapping sonar pings to create an high-resolution image by combining several acoustic pings, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
—USA TODAY, 29 Mar. 2024
Authorities said a crew of unknown size was working on the bridge at the time of the collapse and that sonar had detected cars in the water, which is about 50 feet deep.
—Lawrence Richard, Fox News, 28 Mar. 2024
Dalia Faheid, CNN, 31 Mar. 2024
Fishermen using sonar equipment found a vehicle at the bottom of an Illinois river that is connected to the 1976 disappearance of two men.
—Minyvonne Burke, NBC News, 14 Mar. 2024
Though Huff is known particularly for his prowess with forward-facing sonar, he’s also had a lot of experience fishing for spawners on Table Rock and Bull Shoals in Arkansas and Missouri.
—Shaye Baker, Field & Stream, 21 Feb. 2024
Then, in late November, the crew was reviewing some of the data the underwater vehicle’s sonar sensors had collected.
—Praveena Somasundaram, Washington Post, 31 Jan. 2024
Now, researchers equipped with sonar have analyzed its charred remains, unraveling some of the long-standing mysteries surrounding the medieval ship, according to a study published on Jan. 16 in the Journal of Maritime Archaeology.
—Brendan Rascius, Miami Herald, 29 Jan. 2024
Sunshine State Sonar is a volunteer search and recovery team based in Florida that specializes in sonar and underwater technology.
—Emily Mae Czachor, CBS News, 2 Jan. 2024
The sonar emits multiple overlapping sonar pings to create an high-resolution image by combining several acoustic pings, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
—USA TODAY, 29 Mar. 2024
Authorities said a crew of unknown size was working on the bridge at the time of the collapse and that sonar had detected cars in the water, which is about 50 feet deep.
—Lawrence Richard, Fox News, 28 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'sonar.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Sonar.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sonar. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
sonar
noun
so·nar
ˈsō-ˌnär 
: a device for detecting the presence and location of submerged objects (as submarines) by sound waves
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