How do you use the word "radar" in a sentence?

Here are real-life examples of using "radar": The ship is not equipped with radar. The boat was equipped with radar.

Radar

/ˈɹeɪdɑː/

Definition, CEFR level B1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.

Definition

nounIn full primary radar: a method of detecting a distant object and determining its position, velocity, or other characteristics by analysing radio waves (usually microwaves) which are sent towards the object and which reflect off its surfaces; also, the field of study of this method., In full secondary radar: a method of detecting a distant object and determining its position, velocity, or other characteristics by analysing signals transmitted by the object in response to radio waves sent towards the object.

Sentence Examples

The ship is not equipped with radar.

The boat was equipped with radar.

They located the ship by radar.

CEFR Practice Quiz

The air traffic controller uses ____ to track planes during heavy fog.

CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)

The air traffic controller tracked the approaching aircraft on the ____ screen.

Word Origin & History

Etymology tree Latin radiusder. English radio- Proto-Indo-European *kʷelh₁-der. Ancient Greek τῆλε (têle)lbor. French télé- Proto-Indo-European *gerbʰ- Proto-Hellenic *grə́pʰō Ancient Greek γράφω (gráphō) Ancient Greek -γράφος (-gráphos)bor. Latin -graphuslbor. French -graphe French télégraphebor. English telegraph Proto-Indo-European *-yós Proto-Italic *-ios Old Latin -ios Latin -ius Latin -ia Old French -ieder. Middle English -ie Middle English -y English -y English telegraphy English radiotelegraphyclip. English radio Proto-Indo-European *de Proto-Indo-European *-h₁ Proto-Indo-European *déh₁ Proto-Italic *dē Latin dē Latin dē- Proto-Indo-European *(s)teg-der. Proto-Italic *tegō Latin tegō Latin dētegō Proto-Indo-European *-tis Proto-Indo-European *-Hō Proto-Indo-European *-tiHō Proto-Italic *-tiō Latin -tio Latin dētēctiōder. Latin dētēctiōnembor. English detection Proto-Indo-European *h₂ent- Proto-Indo-European *-s Proto-Indo-European *h₂énts Proto-Indo-European *-i Proto-Indo-European *h₂énti Proto-Germanic *andi Old English and Middle English and English and Proto-Indo-European *(H)rek-der. Proto-Celtic *reketi Gaulish *rekosbor.? Proto-Indo-European *h₃reǵ-der. Proto-Germanic *rinkanąder. Proto-Germanic *rankaz Frankish *rankbor.? Vulgar Latin *rencus Old French reng Proto-Italic *-āzi ▲ Latin -ereinflu. Latin -āre Old French -ier Old French rengierbor. Middle English rengen English range Proto-Germanic *-ungō Old English -ung Middle English -ynge English -ing English ranging English RADAR English radar The noun is derived from RADAR by anacronymic evolution. RADAR is an acronym of ra(dio) d(etection) a(nd) r(anging) which was coined by Lieutenant-Commander Samuel M. Tucker and Lieutenant-Commander F. R. Furth of the United States Navy in November 1940. The verb is probably derived from the noun.

Literary Quotations & Historical Citations

"Although operational environments profoundly differ, both kinds of autonomous vehicles, groundcraft and aircraft, will still rely on conceptually the same sorts of sensors — cameras, radar and lidar — to perceive surroundings in real time." — 2020 January 1, Adam Hadhazy, “Achieving autonomy”, in Aerospace America, archived from the original on 22 Apr 2025:

"Evidence as to the audio monitor's reading is required to prove the [police] officer used the radar unit properly, and must be shown in order to secure a conviction for speeding when using radar." — 2002, Brian Jonathan Wolk, “Producing Inconsistencies in Various Cases”, in Ohio Traffic Tickets are for the Birds: A Practical Defense Manual for Juveniles and Adults, Lincoln, Neb.: Writers Club Press, iUniverse, →ISBN, section 4 (Producing Inconsistencies), page 145:

"[T]he [depth] bombs must be tied to a grid of listening devices, radars and plotting instruments." — 1941 October 2, Arthur Krock, “The value of armament to merchant ships”, in The New York Times (C section), New York, N.Y.: The New York Times Company, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 07 Nov 2025, page 24, column 5:

"Stanley: Geez, how'd ya know? / Happy: I got radar or something." — 1949, Arthur Miller, Death of a Salesman: Certain Private Conversations […], New York, N.Y.: Viking Press, →OCLC, Act II, page 100:

"It [a goal] came inside 50 minutes and moments later [Edinson] Cavani should have had a 12th. [Paul] Pogba and [Luke] Shaw combined before the left-back's cross teed up the striker but his radar was awry." — 2021 April 29, Jamie Jackson, “Edinson Cavani and Bruno Fernandes help Manchester United hit Roma for six”, in Katharine Viner, editor, The Guardian, London: Guardian News & Media, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 27 Aug 2025:

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