irradiate
verb
ir·ra·di·ate
i-ˈrā-dē-ˌāt 
irradiated; irradiating
1
a
: to affect or treat by radiant energy (such as heat)
specifically
: to treat by irradiation
b
: to cast rays of light upon : illuminate
c
: to enlighten intellectually or spiritually
2
: to emit like rays of light : radiate
irradiating strength and comfort
archaic
: to emit rays : shine
Synonyms
Examples of irradiate in a Sentence
The food was irradiated to kill any germs.
the light from a galaxy of flashing signs irradiates the heart and soul of Las Vegas
Recent Examples on the Web
Those loops disappear by irradiating gravitational waves.
—
Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 28 June 2023
Scarred by the horrors of the Chernobyl nuclear catastrophe—which irradiated sizable areas of Belarus, Ukraine, and other European countries—the Ukrainians initially seemed inclined to go along with U.S. and Russian plans for Ukraine’s denuclearization.
—Serhii Plokhy, Foreign Affairs, 22 Nov. 2019
Spacecraft must deal with wild swings in temperature, depending on which parts of the vehicle are facing the sun, and they’re often bombarded with cosmic rays — irradiated particles streaming from the sun or deep space that can easily fry electronics that aren’t well protected.
—Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 23 Feb. 2024
Clooney — face wrapped in a giant gray beard — plays Augustine, a scientist at an Arctic research station that's still standing after an unnamed global catastrophe leaves the Earth irradiated.
—Randall Colburn, EW.com, 25 Jan. 2024
See all Example Sentences for irradiate 
Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 28 June 2023
Scarred by the horrors of the Chernobyl nuclear catastrophe—which irradiated sizable areas of Belarus, Ukraine, and other European countries—the Ukrainians initially seemed inclined to go along with U.S. and Russian plans for Ukraine’s denuclearization.
—Serhii Plokhy, Foreign Affairs, 22 Nov. 2019
Spacecraft must deal with wild swings in temperature, depending on which parts of the vehicle are facing the sun, and they’re often bombarded with cosmic rays — irradiated particles streaming from the sun or deep space that can easily fry electronics that aren’t well protected.
—Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 23 Feb. 2024
Clooney — face wrapped in a giant gray beard — plays Augustine, a scientist at an Arctic research station that's still standing after an unnamed global catastrophe leaves the Earth irradiated.
—Randall Colburn, EW.com, 25 Jan. 2024
See all Example Sentences for irradiate
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'irradiate.' 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 irradiate
Cite this Entry
“Irradiate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/irradiate. Accessed 4 Jul. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
irradiate
verb
ir·ra·di·ate
ir-ˈād-ē-ˌāt
irradiated; irradiating
1
a
: to cast rays of light on : illuminate
b
: to affect or treat by exposure to radiation (as of ultraviolet light, X-rays, or gamma rays)
2
: to give off like rays of light : radiate
irradiation
noun
-ˌād-ē-ˈā-shən
Medical Definition
irradiate
transitive verb
ir·ra·di·ate
ir-ˈād-ē-ˌāt
irradiated; irradiating
: to affect or treat by radiant energy (as heat)
specifically
: to treat by exposure to radiation (as ultraviolet light or gamma rays)
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