earthquake

noun

earth·​quake ˈərth-ˌkwāk How to pronounce earthquake (audio)
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.
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 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 8 Jul. 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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