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
The earthquake's epicenter was located roughly 45 miles west of Petrolia and occurred at a depth of just 3 miles.
—
Ca Earthquake Bot, Sacbee.com, 12 Dec. 2025
Kuji is a coastal city in far northeastern Iwate Prefecture with a population of about 34,000, set along the rugged Sanriku shoreline known for its history of powerful earthquakes and tsunamis.
—Gabe Whisnant, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Dec. 2025
The rationale is that such kits could be needed in case a student has to spend the night at school, especially in the event of an earthquake.
—Osmary Hernández, CNN Money, 6 Dec. 2025
An alert about a sizeable earthquake in western Nevada was erroneously issued on Thursday, Dec. 4, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
—Christopher Cann, USA Today, 4 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for earthquake
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Ca Earthquake Bot, Sacbee.com, 12 Dec. 2025
Kuji is a coastal city in far northeastern Iwate Prefecture with a population of about 34,000, set along the rugged Sanriku shoreline known for its history of powerful earthquakes and tsunamis.
—Gabe Whisnant, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Dec. 2025
The rationale is that such kits could be needed in case a student has to spend the night at school, especially in the event of an earthquake.
—Osmary Hernández, CNN Money, 6 Dec. 2025
An alert about a sizeable earthquake in western Nevada was erroneously issued on Thursday, Dec. 4, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
—Christopher Cann, USA Today, 4 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for earthquake
Cite this Entry
“Earthquake.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/earthquake. Accessed 16 Dec. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
earthquake
noun
earth·quake
ˈərth-ˌkwāk
: a shaking or trembling of a portion of the earth
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