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.
Magnitude measures the strength of an earthquake. Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 23 May 2026 No tsunami warning has been issued in relation to the earthquake, according to the USGS. Robert McGreevy, FOXNews.com, 23 May 2026 It is estimated that there are 500,000 detectable earthquakes in the world each year. Ca Earthquake Bot, Sacbee.com, 23 May 2026 Regional seismometers registered localized repeating earthquakes beginning as early as August 5. Jacek Krywko, ArsTechnica, 10 May 2026 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 May. 2026.

Kids Definition

earthquake

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

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