epicenter
noun
epi·cen·ter
ˈe-pi-ˌsen-tər 
1
: the part of the earth's surface directly above the focus of an earthquake compare hypocenter sense 1
2
: center sense 2a
the epicenter of world finance
Did you know?
The meaning of epi- in epicenter is "over", so the epicenter of an earthquake lies over the center or "focus" of the quake. Epicenter can also refer to the centers of things that may seem in their own way as powerful—though not as destructive—as earthquakes. Wall Street, for example, might be said to lie at the epicenter of the financial world.
Examples of epicenter in a Sentence
by continually reinventing itself, Las Vegas has managed to remain a national epicenter for entertainment
Recent Examples on the Web
Ricci said that while North America remains the epicenter of high-net-worth individuals, new wealth hubs are rapidly emerging in India and Southeast Asia, with Indonesia and Thailand growing.
—
Luisa Zargani, Footwear News, 8 July 2025
In recent years, multiple efforts in Kerr County to build a more substantial flood warning system have faltered or been abandoned due to budget concerns, leaving the epicenter of this weekend’s floods without emergency sirens that could have warned residents about the rising waters.
—Curt Devine, CNN Money, 7 July 2025
At least 81 people have died in the flooding since Friday, including at least 28 children in Kerr County alone – the epicenter of the deadly flash floods that came as many were still sleeping, officials said.
—Christopher Cann, USA Today, 7 July 2025
His model integrates oral biohacking into a broader energetic framework, viewing the mouth as a neurological and functional epicenter intricately linked to the entire body’s health dynamism.
—Ximena Araya-Fischel, Forbes.com, 4 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for epicenter
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Luisa Zargani, Footwear News, 8 July 2025
In recent years, multiple efforts in Kerr County to build a more substantial flood warning system have faltered or been abandoned due to budget concerns, leaving the epicenter of this weekend’s floods without emergency sirens that could have warned residents about the rising waters.
—Curt Devine, CNN Money, 7 July 2025
At least 81 people have died in the flooding since Friday, including at least 28 children in Kerr County alone – the epicenter of the deadly flash floods that came as many were still sleeping, officials said.
—Christopher Cann, USA Today, 7 July 2025
His model integrates oral biohacking into a broader energetic framework, viewing the mouth as a neurological and functional epicenter intricately linked to the entire body’s health dynamism.
—Ximena Araya-Fischel, Forbes.com, 4 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for epicenter
Cite this Entry
“Epicenter.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/epicenter. Accessed 14 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
epicenter
noun
epi·cen·ter
ˈep-i-ˌsent-ər
: the part of the earth's surface directly above the starting point of an earthquake
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