epicenter
noun
epi·cen·ter
ˈe-pi-ˌsen-tər 
1
: the part of the earth's surface directly above the focus of an earthquake compare hypocenter sense 1
2
: center sense 2a
the epicenter of world finance
Did you know?
The meaning of epi- in epicenter is "over", so the epicenter of an earthquake lies over the center or "focus" of the quake. Epicenter can also refer to the centers of things that may seem in their own way as powerful—though not as destructive—as earthquakes. Wall Street, for example, might be said to lie at the epicenter of the financial world.
Synonyms
Examples of epicenter in a Sentence
by continually reinventing itself, Las Vegas has managed to remain a national epicenter for entertainment
Recent Examples on the Web
The 2008 Sichuan earthquake – which registered 7.9 on the Richter Scale – destroyed over 5 million buildings, knocking out all communication infrastructure near the epicenter.
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New Atlas, 16 Jan. 2025
What to Know Tsunami advisories were issued shortly after the 9:19 p.m. quake on Monday for Miyazaki prefecture, where the epicenter was located on Kyushu island, as well as nearby Kochi prefecture on Shikoku island, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency.
—John Mac Ghlionn, Newsweek, 14 Jan. 2025
Fires across the Los Angeles area have destroyed thousands of structures and caused massive emotional distress in the industry-leading epicenter, prompting mass evacuations of nearly 200,000 residents.
—Thania Garcia, Variety, 14 Jan. 2025
The quakes of magnitude 3.6, 2.5 and 2.9 had epicenters 3 to 4 miles northwest of the San Francisco Zoo, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
—Rick Hurd, The Mercury News, 11 Jan. 2025
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New Atlas, 16 Jan. 2025
What to Know Tsunami advisories were issued shortly after the 9:19 p.m. quake on Monday for Miyazaki prefecture, where the epicenter was located on Kyushu island, as well as nearby Kochi prefecture on Shikoku island, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency.
—John Mac Ghlionn, Newsweek, 14 Jan. 2025
Fires across the Los Angeles area have destroyed thousands of structures and caused massive emotional distress in the industry-leading epicenter, prompting mass evacuations of nearly 200,000 residents.
—Thania Garcia, Variety, 14 Jan. 2025
The quakes of magnitude 3.6, 2.5 and 2.9 had epicenters 3 to 4 miles northwest of the San Francisco Zoo, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
—Rick Hurd, The Mercury News, 11 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for epicenter
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Dictionary Entries Near epicenter
Cite this Entry
“Epicenter.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/epicenter. Accessed 29 Jan. 2025.
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epicenter
noun
epi·cen·ter
ˈep-i-ˌsent-ər
: the part of the earth's surface directly above the starting point of an earthquake
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