bandwidth
noun
band·width
ˈband-ˌwidth 
-ˌwitth
1
: a range within a band of wavelengths, frequencies, or energies
especially
: a range of radio frequencies which is occupied by a modulated carrier wave, which is assigned to a service, or over which a device can operate
2
: the capacity for data transfer of an electronic communications system
Graphics consume more bandwidth than text does.
especially
: the maximum data transfer rate of such a system
a bandwidth of 100 megabits per second
3
: the emotional or mental capacity necessary to do or consider something
I don't have the bandwidth to do it all myself, and I feel like a failure because I'm not living up to my own ideals.—
Frances Lefkowitz
Frances LefkowitzExamples of bandwidth in a Sentence
The modem has a bandwidth of 56 kilobits per second.
Graphics use more bandwidth than text does.
Recent Examples on the Web
Traditional storage solutions are not always adept at handling the extensive bandwidth provided by modern networks, which now approach 800GB/second, or managing the small files common in AI workflows.
—Steve McDowell, Forbes, 28 Mar. 2024
The point is, cities have to pay close attention, and have the proper bandwidth.
—Bill Kearney, Miami Herald, 27 Mar. 2024
Additionally, the memory bandwidth is boosted to 8 terabytes per second from the H200’s 4.8 TB/s.
Smaller Numbers, Faster Chips
Chipmaking technology did some of the job in making Blackwell, but its what the GPU does with the transistors that really makes the difference.
—IEEE Spectrum, 18 Mar. 2024
And even in the case of a bill that was less of a priority but nonetheless took up immense emotional bandwidth at the Statehouse — Senate Bill 52, this year’s IndyGo bill — Huston still came out the hero.
—Brittany Carloni, The Indianapolis Star, 11 Mar. 2024
As the old order disintegrates and a new one struggles to be born, the advantage lies with those who understand how to navigate skyrocketing complexity, hyper-commoditization, and essentially zero bandwidth for insightful, original creative thinking.
—John G. Singer, Fortune, 15 Feb. 2024
Get to know the small- and mid-size businesses in your area, who might have needs but don’t have the bandwidth to run an official internship program.
—Caroline Ceniza-Levine, Forbes, 26 Feb. 2024
Under illumination, the quantum dots re-emit light of a specific bandwidth.
—IEEE Spectrum, 17 Dec. 2023
And so this would increase the bandwidth of sort of the global sneakernet or station wagon net quite dramatically as well.
—Stephen Cass, IEEE Spectrum, 6 Mar. 2024
Steve McDowell, Forbes, 28 Mar. 2024
The point is, cities have to pay close attention, and have the proper bandwidth.
—Bill Kearney, Miami Herald, 27 Mar. 2024
Additionally, the memory bandwidth is boosted to 8 terabytes per second from the H200’s 4.8 TB/s.
Smaller Numbers, Faster Chips
Chipmaking technology did some of the job in making Blackwell, but its what the GPU does with the transistors that really makes the difference.
—IEEE Spectrum, 18 Mar. 2024
And even in the case of a bill that was less of a priority but nonetheless took up immense emotional bandwidth at the Statehouse — Senate Bill 52, this year’s IndyGo bill — Huston still came out the hero.
—Brittany Carloni, The Indianapolis Star, 11 Mar. 2024
As the old order disintegrates and a new one struggles to be born, the advantage lies with those who understand how to navigate skyrocketing complexity, hyper-commoditization, and essentially zero bandwidth for insightful, original creative thinking.
—John G. Singer, Fortune, 15 Feb. 2024
Get to know the small- and mid-size businesses in your area, who might have needs but don’t have the bandwidth to run an official internship program.
—Caroline Ceniza-Levine, Forbes, 26 Feb. 2024
Under illumination, the quantum dots re-emit light of a specific bandwidth.
—IEEE Spectrum, 17 Dec. 2023
And so this would increase the bandwidth of sort of the global sneakernet or station wagon net quite dramatically as well.
—Stephen Cass, IEEE Spectrum, 6 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'bandwidth.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near bandwidth
Cite this Entry
“Bandwidth.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bandwidth. Accessed 23 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
bandwidth
noun
band·width
ˈband-ˌwidth
1
: a range of frequencies
2
: the capacity for or rate of data transfer
a high bandwidth Internet connection
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