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

• 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

There are areas of Haiti that are that still have not recovered from the earthquake. —Billal Rahman gabe Whisnant, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 June 2025

Earth processes – such as earthquakes and volcanic eruptions – also trigger cascading hazards, often with long-lasting effects. —Brian J. Yanites, The Conversation, 26 June 2025

The earthquake struck about 22 miles southwest of Semnan, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. —Nbc News, NBC news, 22 June 2025

Lyell answers by proposing that large climatic changes arise when volcanoes and earthquakes alter the distribution of land and sea. —Lewis Hyde, Harpers Magazine, 18 June 2025

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for earthquake

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

Kids Definition

earthquake

noun

earth·​quake ˈərth-ˌkwāk 

: a shaking or trembling of a portion of the earth