global warming

noun

: an increase in the earth's atmospheric and oceanic temperatures widely predicted to occur due to an increase in the greenhouse effect resulting especially from pollution
A Russian-owned tanker, built to traverse the frozen waters of the Arctic, completed a journey in record time from Europe to Asia this month, auguring the future of shipping as global warming melts sea ice.Russell Goldman
Debates about stem cells, global warming, and alternative energy might be less contentious if the scientific issues behind them were better understood.Elizabeth Gettelman
The development is also meant to boost tourism in Zermatt, which, like many Alpine towns worried about the effects of global warming on winter tourism, is exploring ways to draw visitors throughout the year.Jim Rendon
… I think it makes a compelling case, at least for most audiences, that humans are the cause of most of the global warming that is taking place, and that unless we take quick action the consequences for our planetary home could become irreversible.Al Gore

Examples of global warming in a Sentence

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.
Geoengineering refers to intentional large-scale efforts to change the climate to counteract global warming. Stephanie Armour, CNN Money, 16 Oct. 2025 While several governments have been pushing for further use of hydrocarbons like coal, oil, and gas for energy production, some businesses and local governments have been mobilizing to fight global warming. Jason Del Rey, Fortune, 15 Oct. 2025 Warm-water coral reefs — on which nearly 1 billion people and a quarter of all marine life depend — suffer widespread coral dieback unless global warming is reversed. Nicole Fallert, USA Today, 14 Oct. 2025 Natural variability is an important baseline scientists use to distinguish between normal climate fluctuations and new extremes driven by greenhouse gas emissions and global warming. Hayleigh Evans, AZCentral.com, 13 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for global warming

Word History

First Known Use

1953, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of global warming was in 1953

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Cite this Entry

“Global warming.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/global%20warming. Accessed 19 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

global warming

noun
: a warming of the earth's atmosphere and oceans that is widely predicted to result from an increase in the greenhouse effect caused by air pollution

More from Merriam-Webster on global warming

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