the equator
noun
: an imaginary circle around the middle of the Earth that is the same distance from the North Pole and the South Pole
The city of Quito, Ecuador, lies very close to the equator.
Examples of the equator in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The North Pole's tilt towards the sun is greatest at the solstice, so this event marks the longest day of the year north of the equator.
—
The Arizona Republic, 17 Apr. 2024
El Niño, a natural climate pattern which originates in the Pacific Ocean along the equator and tends to push up global temperatures, has helped drive the unprecedented ocean heat.
—Rebecca Wright, CNN, 15 Apr. 2024
Six hundred and fifty years later, there is a total eclipse at the equator, half way through its cycle.
—Emily Newhouse, Allure, 5 Apr. 2024
The sun passes directly above the equator on the equinox and there are about an equal 12 hours of daylight and 12 hours of night, NASA explains.
—Caitlin O'Kane, CBS News, 20 Mar. 2024
Cocoa trees are especially sensitive to climate change, only growing in a narrow band of approximately 20 degrees around the equator.
—Kathleen Wong, USA TODAY, 19 Mar. 2024
Hawaii opted out of the Uniform Time Act because of how close the state is to the equator.
—Amy Huschka, Detroit Free Press, 9 Mar. 2024
Some of the most popular tropical destinations sit on the equator, and everyone loves those poolside coconut drinks.
—Isaiah Freeman-Schub, Robb Report, 18 Jan. 2024
La Niñas often follow intense El Niños because of a phenomenon known as discharge, when heat on the equator migrates toward the poles and cold deep-ocean waters rise to take its place.
—Bloomberg, Orange County Register, 17 Mar. 2024
The Arizona Republic, 17 Apr. 2024
El Niño, a natural climate pattern which originates in the Pacific Ocean along the equator and tends to push up global temperatures, has helped drive the unprecedented ocean heat.
—Rebecca Wright, CNN, 15 Apr. 2024
Six hundred and fifty years later, there is a total eclipse at the equator, half way through its cycle.
—Emily Newhouse, Allure, 5 Apr. 2024
The sun passes directly above the equator on the equinox and there are about an equal 12 hours of daylight and 12 hours of night, NASA explains.
—Caitlin O'Kane, CBS News, 20 Mar. 2024
Cocoa trees are especially sensitive to climate change, only growing in a narrow band of approximately 20 degrees around the equator.
—Kathleen Wong, USA TODAY, 19 Mar. 2024
Hawaii opted out of the Uniform Time Act because of how close the state is to the equator.
—Amy Huschka, Detroit Free Press, 9 Mar. 2024
Some of the most popular tropical destinations sit on the equator, and everyone loves those poolside coconut drinks.
—Isaiah Freeman-Schub, Robb Report, 18 Jan. 2024
La Niñas often follow intense El Niños because of a phenomenon known as discharge, when heat on the equator migrates toward the poles and cold deep-ocean waters rise to take its place.
—Bloomberg, Orange County Register, 17 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'the equator.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near the equator
Cite this Entry
“The equator.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/the%20equator. Accessed 28 Apr. 2024.
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