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

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs stated that about 10 percent of Chocó’s population — 69,000 people — were affected or displaced by the earthquake, per AP. — Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 27 Aug. 2026

Vanessa came to the United States after surviving Haiti’s devastating 2010 earthquake. — Tania Francois, Miami Herald, 27 Aug. 2026

The broader Langtang region was also hit by devastating avalanches during Nepal’s 2015 earthquake. — Sibi Arasu, Los Angeles Times, 27 Aug. 2026

Aid workers say Nepalese authorities are well-practiced in disaster response, having learned from Nepal's devastating 2015 earthquake, which killed more than 1,000 people. — Diaa Hadid, NPR, 27 Aug. 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