earthquake

noun

earth·​quake ˈərth-ˌkwāk 

1

: a shaking or trembling of the earth that is volcanic or tectonic in origin

2

: upheaval sense 2

Synonyms of earthquake

• quake
• tremor

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

Sign Up for Our Free Daily Newsletter North Korea’s Mount Mantap is being rocked by earthquakes—and the reason appears to be the pariah state’s nuclear tests. — Tom Metcalfe, Scientific American, 17 Sep. 2026

In the Netherlands, more than 1,700 earthquakes have occurred since gas extraction took place in the 1960s. — Katie Hunt, CNN Money, 17 Sep. 2026

The earthquake's epicenter was about 11 miles south-southeast of Silver Springs and occurred at a depth of 5 miles. — Ca Earthquake Bot, Sacbee.com, 17 Sep. 2026

The year before, 1933, the Long Beach earthquake had changed the way California built buildings. — Patt Morrison, Los Angeles Times, 17 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for earthquake

• awake
• backache
• beefsteak
• betake
• cheesecake
• cupcake
• daybreak
• forsake
• gouache
• handshake
• headache
• heartache

Kids Definition

earthquake

noun

earth·​quake ˈərth-ˌkwāk 

: a shaking or trembling of a portion of the earth