: a method or device for detecting and locating objects especially underwater by means of sound waves sent out to be reflected by the objects
also
: a device for detecting the presence of a vessel (such as a submarine) by the sound it emits in water
Examples of sonar in a Sentence
They detected the submarine by using sonar.
Recent Examples on the Web
When pressured bass in clear water won’t tolerate a boat sitting directly over them, Gustafson relies on his forward-facing sonar to guide his short pitches.
—
David A. Brown, Field & Stream, 27 June 2024
An unusual sonar reading at the site was first recorded in 2013 by an oil and gas company sea floor survey, said a report by Doug Jones, marine archaeologist with the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management.
—Mark Price, Charlotte Observer, 20 June 2024
But their patience was rewarded after 17 hours of scanning the ocean floor with sonar: Geiger spotted an odd shape pop onto his screen that was unmistakably the Quest.
—Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 13 June 2024
Supervisors on land who direct divers in the water can get a situational awareness of the wreckage thanks to the Coda Octopus’ sonar and lidar system, Suarez said at a Thursday news conference.
—Lilly Price, Baltimore Sun, 5 Apr. 2024
See all Example Sentences for sonar 
David A. Brown, Field & Stream, 27 June 2024
An unusual sonar reading at the site was first recorded in 2013 by an oil and gas company sea floor survey, said a report by Doug Jones, marine archaeologist with the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management.
—Mark Price, Charlotte Observer, 20 June 2024
But their patience was rewarded after 17 hours of scanning the ocean floor with sonar: Geiger spotted an odd shape pop onto his screen that was unmistakably the Quest.
—Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 13 June 2024
Supervisors on land who direct divers in the water can get a situational awareness of the wreckage thanks to the Coda Octopus’ sonar and lidar system, Suarez said at a Thursday news conference.
—Lilly Price, Baltimore Sun, 5 Apr. 2024
See all Example Sentences for sonar
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'sonar.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Sonar.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sonar. Accessed 7 Jul. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
sonar
noun
so·nar
ˈsō-ˌnär 
: a device for detecting the presence and location of submerged objects (as submarines) by sound waves
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