earthquake
noun
earth·quake
ˈərth-ˌkwāk 
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
Aftershocks are small earthquakes that occur in the days, months or years in the general area after an earthquake.
—
Julia Gomez, USA TODAY, 28 Apr. 2024
For comparison, other states like Hawai’i have reported power outages because of lightning or earthquakes.
—Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 26 Apr. 2024
See all Example Sentences for earthquake 
Julia Gomez, USA TODAY, 28 Apr. 2024
For comparison, other states like Hawai’i have reported power outages because of lightning or earthquakes.
—Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 26 Apr. 2024
See all Example Sentences for earthquake
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'earthquake.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Earthquake.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/earthquake. Accessed 4 May. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
earthquake
noun
earth·quake
ˈərth-ˌkwāk
: a shaking or trembling of a portion of the earth
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