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.
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
Why downtown is crucial Nevertheless, the optimal place that desirable but challenging ambition to spur synergy could be fulfilled is in the city: the epicenter of the area with the most capacity and density and need for connectivity and renewal.
—
Vahe Gregorian, Kansas City Star, 12 Apr. 2025
At the epicenter of this transformation is Portland’s Pacific Northwest College of Art (PNCA), now a flagship institution within Willamette University—Oregon’s oldest university, founded in 1842.
—Stephan Rabimov, Forbes.com, 11 Apr. 2025
Related article Smell of death lingers in town at epicenter of Myanmar quake
People who have lost their homes are also dealing with temperatures of more than 100 degrees Fahrenheit (38 degrees Celsius), along with thunderstorms that rolled through last weekend.
—Rebecca Wright, CNN Money, 10 Apr. 2025
Children and teenagers between ages 5 and 17 make up the majority of cases, followed by children ages 4 and under.
Gaines County, which borders New Mexico, remains the epicenter of the outbreak, with 328 cases confirmed so far, DSHS data shows.
—Mary Kekatos, ABC News, 8 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for epicenter
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.
Vahe Gregorian, Kansas City Star, 12 Apr. 2025
At the epicenter of this transformation is Portland’s Pacific Northwest College of Art (PNCA), now a flagship institution within Willamette University—Oregon’s oldest university, founded in 1842.
—Stephan Rabimov, Forbes.com, 11 Apr. 2025
Related article Smell of death lingers in town at epicenter of Myanmar quake
People who have lost their homes are also dealing with temperatures of more than 100 degrees Fahrenheit (38 degrees Celsius), along with thunderstorms that rolled through last weekend.
—Rebecca Wright, CNN Money, 10 Apr. 2025
Children and teenagers between ages 5 and 17 make up the majority of cases, followed by children ages 4 and under.
Gaines County, which borders New Mexico, remains the epicenter of the outbreak, with 328 cases confirmed so far, DSHS data shows.
—Mary Kekatos, ABC News, 8 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for epicenter
Cite this Entry
“Epicenter.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/epicenter. Accessed 21 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
epicenter
noun
epi·cen·ter
ˈep-i-ˌsent-ər
: the part of the earth's surface directly above the starting point of an earthquake
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share