airwave

adjective

air·​wave ˈer-ˌwāv How to pronounce airwave (audio)
: of, created for, or heard on the airwaves

Examples of airwave in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Starry has airwave licenses to offer wireless Internet service in dozens of cities beyond the seven metro areas it’s in currently. Aaron Pressman, BostonGlobe.com, 1 Nov. 2022 Since 1994, the FCC has raised more than $207.5 billion in airwave auctions. Thomas Gryta, WSJ, 11 Oct. 2021 So Vestberg had to spend big at the most recent government auction of airwave licenses. Aaron Pressman, Fortune, 3 May 2021 Verizon spent more than $45 billion and AT&T spent $23 billion at a recent government auction of airwave licenses similarly well suited for 5G, though the spectrum won't be available for about a year or more. Aaron Pressman, Fortune, 7 Apr. 2021 Ergen's company has held some airwave licenses for years without building a network. Aaron Pressman, Fortune, 4 Mar. 2021 The service runs in the 600 MHz airwave band, which was formerly used for television broadcasts. Aaron Pressman, Fortune, 2 Dec. 2019

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

Word History

First Known Use

1944, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of airwave was in 1944

Dictionary Entries Near airwave

Cite this Entry

“Airwave.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/airwave. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

airwave

noun
air·​wave -ˌwāv How to pronounce airwave (audio)
: air entry 1 sense 7a
usually used in plural
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