Learn English – Verb for what the radio does

word-request

I'm trying to find the right verb for when the radio is … broadcasting? … a particular channel. In my native language, a direct translation would be "the radio was playing BBC 4" but that doesn't sound right in English. "Broadcasting" sounds weird when it's just a radio receiving signals. Receiving?

To broadcast? To receive? Something else?

Best Answer

"Playing" is the word I would use (British English).

Broadcasting does sound weird because the radio itself is receiving a broadcast, not broadcasting.

You can also say that a radio is tuned to Radio 4.

(Radio 4 or BBC Radio 4, or just 4, but not BBC 4 because that's a TV channel.)

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