broadcast
B2Neutral (common in formal, informal, and technical contexts)
Definition
Meaning
To transmit a radio or television program; to spread information widely.
To disseminate or spread something (e.g., ideas, news, seeds) over a wide area.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Historically derived from agricultural term for scattering seed widely; now most associated with electronic media. The verb has both regular (-ed) and irregular (-cast) past forms, with the regular form now dominant.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minor spelling preference: BrE prefers 'broadcast' for all verb forms (broadcast, broadcast, broadcast) more strongly, while AmE more commonly accepts 'broadcasted' as past tense/participle.
Connotations
Identical core meaning. In technical/media contexts, no significant difference.
Frequency
Equally common in both varieties.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
SVO: The station broadcasts the news.SVOA: They broadcast the concert live from the hall.Passive: The show was broadcast internationally.Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “To broadcast one's intentions (to make them obvious)”
- “A broadcast smile (a wide, open smile)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
The CEO will broadcast a company-wide announcement.
Academic
The study analysed how different networks broadcast political content.
Everyday
They broadcast the football match last night.
Technical
The transmitter broadcasts the signal on a specific frequency.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The BBC will broadcast the coronation ceremony.
- They haven't broadcast that programme for years.
- The news is broadcast at six o'clock.
American English
- CNN will broadcast the presidential debate.
- The network broadcasted the series finale last night.
- The podcast is broadcast live every Tuesday.
adverb
British English
- The seeds were sown broadcast across the field. (archaic/agricultural)
adjective
British English
- She works in broadcast journalism.
- We need a new broadcast antenna.
- The broadcast signal was interrupted.
American English
- He has a degree in broadcast communications.
- The storm damaged the broadcast tower.
- They reached a broadcast audience of millions.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I heard the news on the radio broadcast.
- The TV broadcast starts at 7 pm.
- The concert will be broadcast live on television.
- They broadcast the football match to over fifty countries.
- The government used state media to broadcast its propaganda.
- New regulations will affect how adverts are broadcast during children's programmes.
- The leaked memo was deliberately broadcast to the press to gauge public reaction.
- Advances in technology have fundamentally changed the economics of broadcast media.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a farmer casting (throwing) seeds BROADly across a field, just as a station casts signals widely to listeners.
Conceptual Metaphor
INFORMATION IS A SEED/PLANT (sowing information); COMMUNICATION IS SENDING (casting a net of signals).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct translation with 'broad' (широкий) + 'cast' (бросок).
- Not the same as 'ретранслировать' (to relay).
- Can be a false friend for 'вещать' (more specific to radio/TV).
Common Mistakes
- Using 'broadcasted' in formal BrE writing (though accepted).
- Confusing noun and verb stress: Noun is often /ˈbrɔːdkɑːst/, verb can be /ˌbrɔːdˈkɑːst/ but first-syllable stress is now common for both.
- Using 'broadcast' for narrow digital distribution (e.g., an email to a list).
Practice
Quiz
Which sentence uses 'broadcast' CORRECTLY as a past tense verb?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, 'broadcasted' is now widely accepted, especially in American English, though some style guides and speakers (particularly in BrE) still prefer 'broadcast' for all forms.
Yes, it's commonly used for live streaming (e.g., 'broadcast on YouTube'), though 'stream' is more precise for on-demand content.
'Telecast' specifically refers to television broadcasting, whereas 'broadcast' covers radio, TV, and now digital transmission.
Primarily, but it can refer to the act or instance of transmitting any information widely (e.g., 'a broadcast email').
Collections
Part of a collection
Media and Communication
B1 · 50 words · Language for discussing media and communication.
Media Analysis
B2 · 49 words · Critically analyzing media and information.