# broadcast

/ˈbɹɔdˌkæst/ (US) · /bɹˈɔːdkɑːst/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/broadcast
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. to transmit media

verb · CEFR B1

to send out a programme on television, radio, or the internet.

For teachers: to transmit audio or video content via radio waves or digital signals to a broad audience.

- The BBC will broadcast the concert live to millions of people tonight.
- The network plans to broadcast the documentary series simultaneously across its digital platforms and traditional cable channels to maximise viewership.

Usage: The past tense is usually 'broadcast', though 'broadcasted' is increasingly common in informal speech.

### 2. to spread information

verb · CEFR B2

to tell something to a lot of people, especially a secret.

For teachers: to make information widely known; to disseminate news or gossip extensively.

- You shouldn't broadcast your private problems on social media.
- The company chose not to broadcast the merger details until the legal contracts were officially signed by both parties.

### 3. to sow seeds

verb · CEFR C2 · Technical

to scatter seeds over a wide area of ground.

For teachers: to sow seeds by scattering them broadly over the surface of the soil rather than in discrete rows.

- The farmer used a machine to broadcast the grass seed across the field.
- Before the invention of the seed drill, farmers would broadcast grain by hand, leading to uneven crop distribution and significant waste.

Teaching tip: This is the original literal meaning of the word, though it is now mostly restricted to agricultural and horticultural contexts.

### 4. a programme

noun · CEFR B1

a single radio or television programme.

For teachers: a specific transmission or programme on radio or television.

- I missed the evening broadcast because I was working late.
- The emergency broadcast interrupted regular programming to provide citizens with vital information regarding the approaching storm.

### 5. relating to media

adjective · CEFR B2

relating to the business of making radio or television programmes.

For teachers: pertaining to the transmission of signals or the industry of radio and television production.

- She is looking for a job in broadcast journalism.
- The candidate's extensive background in broadcast media gave her a distinct advantage during the televised debates.

### 6. widely scattered

adverb · CEFR C2 · Literary

spread out in many directions over a large area.

For teachers: in a manner that scatters or spreads things widely in all directions.

- The seeds were flung broadcast across the meadow.
- The news of the uprising was spread broadcast throughout the colonies, igniting a spirit of rebellion in even the most remote settlements.

## Examples

- The news broadcast starts at six o'clock.
- The emergency broadcast provided residents with vital information about the approaching storm and evacuation routes.
- While digital streaming has fragmented traditional audiences, a live national broadcast remains the most effective way to reach a massive, simultaneous viewership during major sporting events.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.