# modem

/ˈmoʊdəm/ (US) · /mˈəʊdɛm/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/modem
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. internet connection device

noun · CEFR B1

a small box that connects your computer or router to the internet service provider.

For teachers: a hardware device that converts digital data into a format suitable for a transmission medium, such as telephone or cable lines, and vice versa.

- If the internet stops working, try turning the modem off and on again.
- The technician replaced the outdated modem to ensure the office could handle the higher bandwidth required for video conferencing.

Usage: Often used in the phrase 'cable modem' or 'DSL modem'.

### 2. to send via modem

verb · CEFR C2 · Technical · Archaic

to send information from one computer to another using a modem.

For teachers: to transmit data or documents via a modem connection.

- In the early days of the internet, people would modem files to each other directly.
- The system was configured to modem the diagnostic reports to the central server every night at midnight.

Teaching tip: This verb sense is very rare in modern English as high-speed broadband has replaced the manual process of 'modeming' files.

## Examples

- I need to restart the modem because the internet is slow.
- The technician installed a new modem to ensure the office had a stable high-speed fiber connection.
- Early internet users relied on dial-up modems that occupied the household phone line, whereas modern broadband versions allow for simultaneous voice and data transmission.

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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.