emit

verb

ē-ˈmit 

emitted; emitting

transitive verb

1

a

: to throw or give off or out

emit light/heat

b

: to send out : eject

2

a

: to issue with authority

especially : to put (something, such as money) into circulation

b

obsolete : publish

3

: to give utterance or voice to

emitted a groan

emitter noun

Synonyms

• cast
• discharge
• emanate
• evolve
• exhale
• expel
• expire [archaic]
• give out
• irradiate
• issue
• radiate
• release
• send (out)
• shoot
• throw out
• vent

Examples of emit in a Sentence

The telescope can detect light emitted by distant galaxies.

chimneys emitting thick, black smoke

The brakes emitted a loud squeal.

Recent Examples on the Web

Methane, which has 86 times the warming impact of carbon dioxide over a 20-year period, is largely emitted by fracking. —Li Cohen, CBS News, 31 Oct. 2024

Companies like Microsoft are among the few leading the charge by planning to remove all of the carbon the company has emitted directly or through electricity consumption since its founding in 1975, but many industries have yet to follow suit. —Rob Van Straten, Forbes, 31 Oct. 2024

Related article Webb telescope spots a star on the brink of exploding The Keck Cosmic Web Imager enabled measurements of the velocity of any material within the nebula that emits light. —Ashley Strickland, CNN, 30 Oct. 2024

But in reality the ants are only responding to certain chemicals—in the first case, one that serves as a kind of distress call, and, in the second, ones emitted by a carcass. —Kathryn Schulz, The New Yorker, 28 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Latin emittere to send out, from e- + mittere to send

First Known Use

1598, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing emit

• re-emit

Kids Definition

emit

verb

ē-ˈmit 

emitted; emitting

1

a

: to throw or give off or out

emit light

b

: to send out : eject

2

: utter entry 2 sense 1

emit a groan

Etymology

from Latin emittere "to send out," from e-, ex- "out, forth" and mittere "to send, throw" — related to dismiss, message, missile, transmit