earthquake

noun

earth·​quake ˈərth-ˌkwāk How to pronounce earthquake (audio)
Synonyms of earthquakenext
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
It is estimated that there are 500,000 detectable earthquakes in the world each year. Ca Earthquake Bot, Sacbee.com, 19 Dec. 2025 Clemente was bringing emergency aid to Nicaragua after an earthquake had hit the country. Ben Church, CNN Money, 19 Dec. 2025 Turkey sits at the intersection of three tectonic plates, a geological position that has long shaped its geography through earthquakes and volcanic activity. Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 18 Dec. 2025 Residents across the region and into parts of Canada reported feeling the earthquake, though its remote location limited the human impact. Hollie Silverman, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Dec. 2025 See All Example Sentences for earthquake

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of earthquake was in the 14th century

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Cite this Entry

“Earthquake.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/earthquake. Accessed 25 Dec. 2025.

Kids Definition

earthquake

noun
earth·​quake ˈərth-ˌkwāk How to pronounce earthquake (audio)
: a shaking or trembling of a portion of the earth

More from Merriam-Webster on earthquake

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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