broadcast
Broadcast describes something sent out to many people through radio, television, or the internet.
Explanation at your level:
You use broadcast when you talk about TV or radio. For example, a broadcast show is a show you watch on your television. It means many people watch it at the same time.
When something is broadcast, it is sent to many people. You see broadcast news on your TV every day. It is a common word for media and technology.
The adjective broadcast relates to the transmission of programs. We often use it in phrases like broadcast media to describe television and radio stations. It means the information is distributed to a large audience.
Beyond media, broadcast can describe any information sent to a wide group. If a company sends a broadcast message, they are notifying everyone at once. It implies a one-to-many communication style.
In an advanced context, broadcast denotes the wide dissemination of data or signals. It is frequently used in technical environments, such as broadcast networks or broadcast packets in computing. It captures the nuance of simultaneous, non-targeted transmission.
Historically rooted in agriculture, broadcast now serves as a metaphor for the mass proliferation of information. It characterizes the shift from interpersonal communication to mass media, reflecting how modern societies consume information. Its usage in academic and technical discourse underscores the scale and reach of modern connectivity.
Palabra en 30 segundos
- Broadcast means sending to many.
- Used for TV, radio, and news.
- Past tense is still broadcast.
- Comes from farming (seeds).
When we use broadcast as an adjective, we are usually talking about the world of media. Think of your favorite television show or a live radio update; these are broadcast programs. It implies that the content is being sent out from a central source to reach as many people as possible simultaneously.
Beyond media, you might hear it used in a more general sense. If you broadcast a message to a group of people, you are making sure everyone gets the same information at once. It’s all about reaching a wide audience without needing to speak to each person individually.
The word broadcast has a fascinating agricultural history. It comes from the combination of 'broad' (wide) and 'cast' (to throw). Originally, it was a farming term used to describe the method of sowing seeds by throwing them widely over a field by hand.
It wasn't until the early 20th century, with the invention of radio technology, that the word took on its modern meaning. Just as a farmer would scatter seeds across a field, radio towers began 'scattering' sound waves across the airwaves to reach listeners everywhere. It is a perfect example of how language evolves alongside technology!
You will most often hear this word in professional or technical contexts. Common collocations include broadcast media, broadcast journalist, or broadcast quality. These phrases help define the specific industry standards for audio and video transmission.
In casual conversation, you might hear someone say, 'It’s a broadcast email,' meaning the same message was sent to the entire company. While it is a standard English word, it leans slightly toward formal or professional registers because of its association with news and telecommunications.
While 'broadcast' itself isn't always the core of an idiom, it appears in phrases like 'broadcast to the world', which means to tell everyone a secret or news. Another is 'broadcast news', referring to the industry itself. You might also hear 'to broadcast one's intentions', which means to make your plans very obvious to others, often unintentionally. These expressions highlight how the word implies making something public rather than keeping it private.
The word broadcast is interesting because its past tense and past participle are also broadcast (though 'broadcasted' is sometimes heard in casual speech, it is often considered incorrect by purists). In British and American English, the pronunciation is similar: /ˈbrɔːdkɑːst/.
The stress is on the first syllable: BROAD-cast. It rhymes with words like 'forecast', 'podcast', and 'low-cast'. As an adjective, it is usually placed before a noun, such as 'a broadcast signal' or 'a broadcast tower'.
Fun Fact
It was purely a farming term until the 1920s.
Pronunciation Guide
The 'broad' sounds like 'cawed' and 'cast' has a long 'a'.
The 'broad' sounds like 'cawed' and 'cast' has a short 'a' like 'cat'.
Common Errors
- Mispronouncing the 'st' at the end
- Stressing the second syllable
- Adding an extra 'ed' sound
Rhymes With
Difficulty Rating
Easy to read
Easy to write
Easy to say
Easy to hear
What to Learn Next
Prerequisites
Learn Next
Avanzado
Grammar to Know
Irregular Verbs
broadcast/broadcast/broadcast
Adjective Placement
a broadcast show
Countable Nouns
a broadcast
Examples by Level
The broadcast show is fun.
The TV show is fun.
Adjective before noun.
It is a broadcast signal.
It is a signal for TV.
Simple adjective use.
I like the broadcast news.
I like the TV news.
Noun phrase.
Is this a broadcast program?
Is this on TV?
Question form.
The broadcast is loud.
The sound is loud.
Adjective usage.
Watch the broadcast video.
Watch the video on TV.
Imperative.
It is a good broadcast.
It is a good show.
Noun usage.
The broadcast stops now.
The show ends.
Simple present.
The broadcast quality is very clear.
We heard the broadcast announcement on the radio.
He works for a large broadcast company.
The broadcast schedule is available online.
Did you see the broadcast interview?
The broadcast tower is very tall.
They have a new broadcast system.
The broadcast reaches many cities.
The broadcast journalist reported live from the scene.
We need to improve our broadcast equipment.
The broadcast media is covering the election.
She is a famous broadcast personality.
The broadcast signal was lost during the storm.
They are planning a new broadcast strategy.
The broadcast range covers the whole state.
He studied broadcast communication at university.
The company sent a broadcast message to all employees.
The broadcast rights for the game were expensive.
He has a long career in broadcast television.
The broadcast network decided to cancel the show.
They are using a new broadcast technology.
The broadcast coverage was excellent.
She is an expert in broadcast law.
The broadcast industry is changing rapidly.
The software uses a broadcast protocol to find devices.
The broadcast nature of the internet has changed journalism.
He provided a broadcast analysis of the economic data.
The government issued a broadcast warning to citizens.
The broadcast architecture supports high-definition video.
They implemented a broadcast solution for internal updates.
The broadcast frequency is strictly regulated.
Her research focuses on broadcast ethics.
The broadcast proliferation of information has democratized news.
The broadcast paradigm is shifting toward digital streaming.
His work examines the broadcast dissemination of propaganda.
The broadcast spectrum is a finite resource.
The broadcast medium is inherently public.
They analyzed the broadcast infrastructure of the region.
The broadcast model is evolving in the digital age.
The broadcast transmission was encrypted for security.
Sinónimos
Colocaciones comunes
Idioms & Expressions
"broadcast to the world"
to announce something publicly
He decided to broadcast his engagement to the world.
neutral"broadcast news"
the industry of news on TV/radio
She wants to work in broadcast news.
neutral"broadcast one's intentions"
to make plans very obvious
Don't broadcast your intentions before you start.
casual"on the broadcast"
currently being shown
Did you hear that on the broadcast?
neutral"live broadcast"
happening in real-time
The live broadcast starts at eight.
neutral"broadcast delay"
a short pause in a live show
There is a five-second broadcast delay.
technicalEasily Confused
similar ending
broadcast is wide, narrowcast is specific
The news was a broadcast, but the email was a narrowcast.
both mean to share
publish is for print, broadcast is for airwaves
They published the book and broadcast the show.
both involve sending
transmit is technical, broadcast is for audience
They transmitted the signal to the broadcast station.
both mean to spread
circulate is usually for physical items or rumors
They circulated the memo and broadcast the news.
Sentence Patterns
The broadcast [noun] is [adjective].
The broadcast signal is strong.
They broadcast the [noun] to [audience].
They broadcast the news to everyone.
He is a [adjective] broadcast [noun].
He is a famous broadcast journalist.
The [noun] was broadcast [adverb].
The show was broadcast live.
We need a [adjective] broadcast [noun].
We need a new broadcast strategy.
Familia de palabras
Nouns
Verbs
Adjectives
Relacionado
How to Use It
7/10
Formality Scale
Errores comunes
The past tense of broadcast is irregular.
Broadcast is for everyone; narrowcast is for a few.
Ensure you use the correct part of speech.
It ends in 'cast'.
Broadcast implies public, not private.
Tips
Past Tense Rule
Remember: broadcast, not broadcasted.
Media Context
Use it when talking about news or TV.
Farming Origin
It used to mean throwing seeds!
Word Web
Connect it to 'media' and 'radio'.
Saying 'Cast'
Watch your vowel sound.
Don't use for private
Broadcast is for the public.
News Context
Think of the BBC.
Visual Trick
Imagine a radio tower.
Read News
See how journalists use it.
Stress
Stress the first syllable.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Broad (wide) + Cast (throw) = Throwing information widely.
Visual Association
A farmer throwing seeds vs. a radio tower sending waves.
Word Web
Desafío
Try to use 'broadcast' in a sentence about technology.
Origen de la palabra
English
Original meaning: To scatter seeds widely
Contexto cultural
None, generally neutral.
Highly associated with the BBC or major news networks.
Practice in Real Life
Real-World Contexts
At work
- broadcast email
- broadcast message
- broadcast update
At school
- broadcast journalism
- broadcast media
- broadcast project
Watching TV
- live broadcast
- broadcast schedule
- broadcast channel
Technology
- broadcast signal
- broadcast range
- broadcast packet
Conversation Starters
"What is your favorite broadcast show?"
"Do you prefer broadcast news or online news?"
"Have you ever seen a live broadcast?"
"How has broadcast media changed?"
"Do you think broadcast TV will disappear?"
Journal Prompts
Write about a time you watched a live broadcast.
How does broadcast media influence our lives?
Imagine a world without broadcast signals.
Describe the difference between a broadcast and a private message.
Preguntas frecuentes
8 preguntasBroadcast is the standard past tense.
Yes, a broadcast email goes to everyone.
No, it works for radio and internet too.
Someone who transmits the show.
It is standard, not overly formal.
Publish is for print; broadcast is for signals.
Yes, it is a countable noun.
It comes from farming.
Ponte a prueba
The TV ___ is starting now.
Broadcast is the correct term for a TV show.
What does broadcast mean?
Broadcast means to send out to many people.
The past tense of broadcast is broadcasted.
The past tense is broadcast.
Word
Significado
Matches words with similar or opposite meanings.
Correct structure for a simple sentence.
Puntuación: /5
Summary
Broadcast is the public distribution of information to a wide audience, originally inspired by the way farmers scatter seeds.
- Broadcast means sending to many.
- Used for TV, radio, and news.
- Past tense is still broadcast.
- Comes from farming (seeds).
Past Tense Rule
Remember: broadcast, not broadcasted.
Media Context
Use it when talking about news or TV.
Farming Origin
It used to mean throwing seeds!
Word Web
Connect it to 'media' and 'radio'.
Ejemplo
The broadcast signal was interrupted by the heavy thunderstorm.
Related Content
Más palabras de Media
foreaudile
C1To listen to an audio recording or sequence in advance of its official presentation or broadcast. It is primarily used in technical, educational, or media contexts to ensure quality, clarity, and accuracy before a final evaluation or public release.
channel
B1A channel is a passage for water or other liquids, or a way through which information, communication, or energy is directed. It also refers to a specific frequency or station used for television or radio broadcasting.
expose
B2A public report, film, or piece of investigative journalism that reveals the truth about a situation, especially one involving dishonesty, crime, or scandal. It is intended to bring hidden facts to light and often results in public shock or legal consequences.
macrophototy
C1The specialized practice or technical state of producing large-scale photographic images of small subjects, often focusing on the minute details of textures and structures. It refers to the intersection of high-magnification optics and light-sensitive capture to render micro-details visible to the naked eye.
engraphdom
C1Describing the state of being permanently recorded, imprinted, or inscribed, particularly within a neurological or biological context. It refers to information that has transitioned from a fleeting stimulus to a fixed, enduring memory trace or physical record.
news
A2Information about recent events or happenings, especially as reported by media outlets like newspapers, television, or the internet. It can also refer to new or previously unknown information about a person, place, or thing.
images
A2Visual representations of persons, objects, or scenes, such as photographs, drawings, or digital pictures. It can also refer to the general impression that a person, organization, or product presents to the public.
reviews
B1Son las opiniones o críticas sobre algo, como un libro o una película. A veces, también significa volver a examinar algo.
video
A1A recording of moving visual images made digitally or on videotape. It can also refer to the medium itself or the technology used to record, show, or broadcast such images.
youtube
A2A popular video-sharing website and application where users can upload, view, share, and comment on videos. Ideally referred to as a proper noun, it is also frequently used informally as a verb meaning to search for or watch a video on the platform.
