earthquake

noun

earth·​quake ˈərth-ˌkwāk How to pronounce earthquake (audio)
1
: a shaking or trembling of the earth that is volcanic or tectonic in origin
2

Examples of earthquake in a Sentence

a building destroyed by earthquake the San Andreas Fault is notorious for its earthquakes
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
He’s won 18 Emmy Awards, and two Peabody Awards and was given a National Order of Honour and Merit by the Haitian government for his coverage of the 2010 Haiti earthquake. Sophie Hanson, StyleCaster, 31 Dec. 2024 Former President Jimmy Carter helps build houses with Habitat for Humanity for victims of Haiti's 2010 earthquake, in Leogane, south of Port-au-Prince, on Nov. 26, 2012. Jordan Freiman, CBS News, 30 Dec. 2024 Advancements in earthquake and tsunami science since 2004 have prompted improvements in coastal protection, early warning systems and risk communication. David Bressan, Forbes, 26 Dec. 2024 Or that sand from rivers and lakebeds, not coastal areas, is ideal for building, and builders who skimp on better sand end up constructing buildings that are flat-out dangerous (just look at the destruction in Turkey and Syria from the February 2023 earthquake, one expert tells Taylor). Longreads, 18 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for earthquake 

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of earthquake was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near earthquake

Cite this Entry

“Earthquake.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/earthquake. Accessed 8 Jan. 2025.

Kids Definition

earthquake

noun
earth·​quake ˈərth-ˌkwāk How to pronounce earthquake (audio)
: a shaking or trembling of a portion of the earth

More from Merriam-Webster on earthquake

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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