wormhole

noun

worm·​hole ˈwərm-ˌhōl How to pronounce wormhole (audio)
Synonyms of wormholenext
1
: a hole or passage burrowed by a worm
2
: a hypothetical structure of space-time envisioned as a tunnel connecting points that are separated in space and time

Did you know?

If you associate wormhole with quantum physics and sci-fi, you'll probably be surprised to learn that the word has been around since William Shakespeare's day. To Shakespeare, a "wormhole" was simply a hole made by a worm, but even the Bard subtly linked wormholes to the passage of time; for example, in the poem The Rape of Lucrece, he notes time's destructive power "to fill with worm-holes stately monuments." To modern astrophysicists, a wormhole isn't a tunnel wrought by a slimy invertebrate, but a theoretical tunnel between two black holes or other points in space-time, providing a shortcut between its end points.

Examples of wormhole in a Sentence

We found tiny wormholes in the potatoes.
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.
The curious case of the Einstein-Rosen bridge In 1935, Albert Einstein and Nathan Rosen were not thinking about wormholes or cosmic highways. Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 17 Jan. 2026 More commonly known as wormholes, the existence of Einstein-Rosen Bridges was predicted by Albert Einstein and Nathan Rosen in a 1935 paper. Richard Edwards, Space.com, 12 Jan. 2026 The record eventually triggers the bomb to explode and the wormhole is eliminated. Colleen Kratofil, PEOPLE, 1 Jan. 2026 Since then, says Carroll, Hollywood and the field of physics have had a kind of symbiotic relationship around wormholes. Katia Riddle, NPR, 31 Dec. 2025 See All Example Sentences for wormhole

Word History

First Known Use

1593, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of wormhole was in 1593

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Cite this Entry

“Wormhole.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wormhole. Accessed 2 Feb. 2026.

Kids Definition

wormhole

noun
worm·​hole ˈwərm-ˌhōl How to pronounce wormhole (audio)
1
: a hole or passage made by a worm
2
: a hypothetical object that is thought of as a tunnel connecting points that are widely separated in space and time

More from Merriam-Webster on wormhole

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