earthworm
noun
earth·worm
ˈərth-ˌwərm 
: a terrestrial annelid worm (class Oligochaeta)
especially
: any of a family (Lumbricidae) of numerous widely distributed hermaphroditic worms that move through the soil by means of setae and feed on decaying organic matter
Examples of earthworm in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
His book begins with scenes of ecological devastation: dying earthworms, declining crop yields, collapsing fish stocks.
—
Jennifer Szalai, New York Times, 8 June 2024
Named for the emergence of earthworms as the ground thaws, the worm moon is supposed to symbolize renewal and growth.
—Tiffany Acosta, The Arizona Republic, 25 Mar. 2024
It was first believed, according to the Old Farmer's Almanac, the Worm Moon's name was derived from earthworms wriggling through March's warming soil, which heralded the first signs of spring as birds returned to feast on them.
—John Tufts, The Indianapolis Star, 2 Jan. 2024
Popular imagery reflected and reinforced this idea, from a caricature in Punch's Almanack for 1882 showing a progression from earthworm to Darwin, to the iconic monkey-to-man illustration that appeared in the 1965 Time-Life book Early Man and became known as the March of Progress.
—Kate Wong, Scientific American, 1 Sep. 2020
See all Example Sentences for earthworm 
Jennifer Szalai, New York Times, 8 June 2024
Named for the emergence of earthworms as the ground thaws, the worm moon is supposed to symbolize renewal and growth.
—Tiffany Acosta, The Arizona Republic, 25 Mar. 2024
It was first believed, according to the Old Farmer's Almanac, the Worm Moon's name was derived from earthworms wriggling through March's warming soil, which heralded the first signs of spring as birds returned to feast on them.
—John Tufts, The Indianapolis Star, 2 Jan. 2024
Popular imagery reflected and reinforced this idea, from a caricature in Punch's Almanack for 1882 showing a progression from earthworm to Darwin, to the iconic monkey-to-man illustration that appeared in the 1965 Time-Life book Early Man and became known as the March of Progress.
—Kate Wong, Scientific American, 1 Sep. 2020
See all Example Sentences for earthworm
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'earthworm.' 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
“Earthworm.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/earthworm. Accessed 16 Jun. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
earthworm
noun
earth·worm
-ˌwərm
: a long slender annelid worm that lives in damp earth, moves with the aid of bristles, and feeds on decaying organic matter
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