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
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About two-thirds of Americans (65%) report being worried about global warming, according to a January 2024 report from the Yale Program for Climate Communication. Rebecca Schneid, TIME, 1 Nov. 2024 Where Trump, Harris stand on key issues:A voters' guide to the 2024 election During his presidency, the Trump administration's climate actions included withdrawing the U.S. from the Paris Agreement, an international effort to limit global warming through greenhouse gas emissions reductions. Kimi Robinson, USA TODAY, 26 Oct. 2024 The science exploring links between global warming and tornado behavior is complicated. Sammy Roth, Los Angeles Times, 24 Oct. 2024 Harris cast the tie-breaking vote on the IRA, which includes emissions-cutting policies that will lead to less global warming in the long term, benefiting human health not just in the US but worldwide. Vox Staff, Vox, 24 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for global warming 

Word History

First Known Use

1953, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of global warming was in 1953

Dictionary Entries Near global warming

Cite this Entry

“Global warming.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/global%20warming. Accessed 9 Nov. 2024.

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

More from Merriam-Webster on global warming

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