radar

noun

ra·​dar ˈrā-ˌdär How to pronounce radar (audio)
often attributive
1
: a device or system consisting usually of a synchronized radio transmitter and receiver that emits radio waves and processes their reflections for display and is used especially for detecting and locating objects (such as aircraft) or surface features (as of a planet)
2
: range of notice
fell off the radar after losing their first three games

Examples of radar in a Sentence

The approaching planes were detected by radar.
Recent Examples on the Web When Farnsworth and his collaborators watched radar images in 2017, the extent of birds’ behavior was surprising. Elizabeth Weise, USA TODAY, 3 Mar. 2024 This is one space that flies below the radar in Tulum, but should not be missed. Meagan Drillinger, Travel + Leisure, 3 Mar. 2024 Initially, Lyle and Erik Menendez were not even on investigators' radar. Natalie Morales, CBS News, 2 Mar. 2024 The updating radar map above shows areas of precipitation in green, with greater intensities indicated by yellow and orange. Bay Area News Group, The Mercury News, 29 Feb. 2024 In Grand Blanc, radar showed a tornado touched down, causing serious damage to neighborhoods and potentially a General Motors facility, according to social media posts. Frank Witsil, Detroit Free Press, 28 Feb. 2024 Live Indianapolis weather radar Karl Schneider is an IndyStar environment reporter. Karl Schneider, The Indianapolis Star, 28 Feb. 2024 The three men had been on authorities’ radar in relation to the cold case for some time, Douglas County Sheriff Chris Degase said Wednesday. Sara Smart, CNN, 25 Feb. 2024 Zhao, who worked at a naval base in California, pleaded guilty for sending his Chinese handler plans for U.S. military exercises in the Indo-Pacific region, including blueprints for a radar system on U.S military’s base in Okinawa, Japan. Mithil Aggarwal, NBC News, 22 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'radar.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

radio detecting and ranging

First Known Use

1941, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of radar was in 1941

Dictionary Entries Near radar

Cite this Entry

“Radar.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/radar. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

radar

noun
ra·​dar ˈrā-ˌdär How to pronounce radar (audio)
: a device that sends out radio waves for detecting and locating an object by the reflection of the radio waves and that may use this reflection to find out the position and speed of the object
Etymology

from radio detecting and ranging

More from Merriam-Webster on radar

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!