emit

emit — verb

1. to produce and send outward something such as visible light, warmth, noise, gas,

1.verbtransitiveB2
Definition

to produce and send outward something such as visible light, warmth, noise, gas, or a scent so that it spreads into the surrounding area

Example

The factory chimney was emitting thick black smoke into the air all morning.

emit + smoke — physical release into the air

Sofie's phone emits a quiet beep every time a new message arrives.

emit + sound signal from a device

Common collocations
  • emit light
  • emit heat
  • emit smoke
  • emit gas
  • emit radiation
  • emit a sound
  • emit an odour
  • emit carbon dioxide
  • emit a signal
Synonyms
  • release

    more general, does not always imply spreading outward; can be deliberate or unintentional

  • discharge

    more forceful or formal, often used for waste, gas, or pollutants

  • give off

    informal alternative, common in everyday speech for smells and heat

  • radiate

    specifically for light or heat spreading in all directions

Antonyms
  • absorb

    to take in rather than send out, opposite for light and heat

  • contain

    to hold something in, opposite for gas and smell

Grammar Patterns

emit + noun phrase

Usage Note

Commonly used with nouns describing measurable physical outputs such as light, heat, gas, smoke, sound, or radiation. Frequent in technical, scientific, and environmental writing.

Common Mistakes

He emitted a letter to the company.
He sent a letter to the company.
'emit' is not used for sending written documents or postal items.
The company emitted a new product last week.
The company launched a new product last week.
'emit' does not mean to release onto the market.

2. to make a sound with your voice, especially when the sound is not a word or is a

2.verbtransitiveB2
Definition

to make a sound with your voice, especially when the sound is not a word or is a brief, sudden noise

Example

The injured bird emitted a soft, high-pitched cry when Sana picked it up.

emit + cry — vocal sound from an animal

Emre could not emit a single word during the job interview because of his nerves.

emit + word — used in a negative construction for inability to speak

Common collocations
  • emit a cry
  • emit a groan
  • emit a sigh
  • emit a gasp
  • emit a scream
  • emit a sound
  • emit a whisper
Synonyms
  • utter

    also formal, but more commonly used for words than nonverbal sounds

  • let out

    informal alternative, common in everyday speech for cries, sighs, and groans

  • produce

    neutral and broad; less specific to vocal sounds

Antonyms
  • suppress

    to stop yourself from making a sound that you want to make

  • hold back

    to keep a sound from coming out

Grammar Patterns

emit + noun phrase (the sound produced)

Usage Note

Distinguish from sense 1 (RELEASE): sense 2 refers specifically to sounds produced by the voice of a living creature, while sense 1 covers machine-produced sounds and other physical emissions. Sense 2 is less common and carries a more formal tone than everyday alternatives like 'let out' or 'make'.

Common Mistakes

She emitted that she was tired.
She said she was tired.
'emit' cannot take a that-clause or reported speech as its object.
The teacher emitted the students to be quiet.
The teacher told the students to be quiet.
'emit' does not take an infinitive complement.

Word family

  • emission
    nounB2
  • emitter
    nounC1
  • emissive
    adjectiveC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/1

All four alternatives describe something coming out of a source, but each differs in register and scope. 'Release' is the most general term — anything can be released, from gas to emotions to documents, and it often implies the thing was previously held or confined. 'Emit' is more technical and is used mainly for measurable physical outputs such as light, radiation, sound, or gas. 'Discharge' suggests a forceful or official release, frequently involving waste or pollutants in environmental or medical contexts. 'Give off' is the everyday, informal choice, common in casual speech for smells, heat, or steam. 'Radiate' is more vivid and narrower, reserved for light, heat, or energy spreading outward in waves. For example: 'The power plant emits low levels of radiation' (technical fact), 'The wet coat gives off a damp smell' (casual observation), and 'The factory discharged chemicals into the river' (formal, negative).

release ↗discharge ↗give off ↗radiate

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

From Latin 'ēmittere' — 'ē-' meaning 'out' and 'mittere' meaning 'to send'. The word entered English in the early 1600s, first used for physical release of light or odour and later extended to vocal sounds.