global warming

noun

: an increase in the earth's atmospheric and oceanic temperatures widely predicted to occur due to an increase in the greenhouse effect resulting especially from pollution

A Russian-owned tanker, built to traverse the frozen waters of the Arctic, completed a journey in record time from Europe to Asia this month, auguring the future of shipping as global warming melts sea ice.

—Russell Goldman

Debates about stem cells, global warming, and alternative energy might be less contentious if the scientific issues behind them were better understood.

—Elizabeth Gettelman

The development is also meant to boost tourism in Zermatt, which, like many Alpine towns worried about the effects of global warming on winter tourism, is exploring ways to draw visitors throughout the year.

—Jim Rendon

… I think it makes a compelling case, at least for most audiences, that humans are the cause of most of the global warming that is taking place, and that unless we take quick action the consequences for our planetary home could become irreversible.

—Al Gore

Examples of global warming in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

As the planet’s surface heats up, this can cause them to thin or dissipate entirely, setting up a complicated feedback loop where low clouds are disappearing because of global warming, and their disappearance then drives further warming. —Laura Paddison, CNN, 5 Dec. 2024

The coauthors' clearest conclusion was to call for cuts to burning fossil fuels to reduce overall global warming and lower the likelihood of more severe hot spots emerging. —Andrew Freedman, Axios, 2 Dec. 2024

Global sea levels are rising, Sydney no exception Global average sea levels are rising due to global warming, according to NASA. —Kate S. Petersen, Austin American-Statesman, 30 Nov. 2024

Even the most pessimistic assessments suggest an artificial Christmas tree used for just one year produces about 40 pounds of global warming gases while a natural tree is about 17 pounds. —Elizabeth Weise, USA TODAY, 29 Nov. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1953, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

global warming

noun

: a warming of the earth's atmosphere and oceans that is widely predicted to result from an increase in the greenhouse effect caused by air pollution