# modulate

/ˈmɔdʒjuɫeɪt/ (US) · /mˈɒdjʊlˌeɪt/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/modulate
Updated: 2026-05-28

## Definition

to change the way you speak or sing to make it more interesting. In electronics, it means changing a signal to carry information.

For teachers: to vary the pitch, tone, or volume of a voice or musical instrument; in electronics, to impress a signal onto a carrier wave. Often used in the context of communication or signal processing.

## Examples

- The singer learned to modulate her voice to sound more emotional.
- The technician had to modulate the radio signal to ensure the data could be transmitted over long distances without interference.
- By modulating the intensity of the light source, the researchers were able to create a series of pulses that corresponded to the binary code of the transmitted data.

---

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.