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continental drift
noun
: a slow movement of the continents on a deep-seated viscous zone within the earth compare plate tectonics
Examples of continental drift in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Yes, there is fossil evidence of continental drift.
—Sofia Quaglia, Discover Magazine, 21 Dec. 2023
The far-reaching distribution of Glossopteris provided integral evidence to support the idea of continental drift.
—Allison Futterman, Discover Magazine, 10 Nov. 2023
Later, German scientist Alfred Wegener formed the theory of continental drift — which hypothesized that the continents separated and drifted to other locations.
—Allison Futterman, Discover Magazine, 10 Nov. 2023
At the time of T. indicus – some 167 million years ago – the region was much wetter and bordered on the former Tethys Ocean, now erased by continental drift.
—Matt Hrodey, Discover Magazine, 31 Aug. 2023
But the idea, called continental drift, remained highly debated into the 1960s, and no one had come up with a way to synthesize it all into a grand, testable framework.
—Clay Risen, BostonGlobe.com, 12 Aug. 2023
The benefits of boundaries Our first known is geography, which continental drift will in time alter, but not in our time.
—Hal Brands, Foreign Affairs, 19 Oct. 2021
According to Kristofer Helgen, a biologist and chief scientist at the Australian Museum, the continent lays claim to so many deadly creatures partially because of continental drift.
—Sara Novak, Discover Magazine, 25 Feb. 2022
Finding the Ancient Fish Thanks to continental drift, the world was a different place some 360 million years ago, when H. udlezinye ruled lakes and estuaries.
—Matt Hrodey, Discover Magazine, 7 Mar. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'continental drift.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1926, in the meaning defined above
Time Traveler
The first known use of continental drift was
in 1926
Dictionary Entries Near continental drift
Cite this Entry
“Continental drift.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/continental%20drift. Accessed 15 Jun. 2024.
Kids Definition
continental drift
noun
: the slow movement of the continents on a fluid layer that extends to deep within the earth
More from Merriam-Webster on continental drift
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about continental drift
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