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.
For example, Armenia's early years of independence were marked by tragedies like the Gyumri earthquake and the Artsakh conflict, which fostered dependence on outside economic aid. Bree Carriglio, Forbes, 4 Mar. 2025 Six years of negative economic growth fueled by the succession of crises, mismanagement of the economy and disasters that have left the country even more broken than the powerful 2010 earthquake are all to blame. Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 4 Mar. 2025 The earthquake struck about 70 miles northwest of Seattle, according to the warning center. Alex Sundby, CBS News, 3 Mar. 2025 While A-list actors, directors and producers gathered across Los Angeles for Hollywood’s biggest night, a preliminary 3.9-magnitude earthquake hit the North Hollywood area around 10:13 p.m. Carly Thomas, The Hollywood Reporter, 2 Mar. 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 9 Mar. 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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