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.
Synonyms
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
World & Nation At the epicenter of the Mexican drug trade, a deadly power struggle shuts down a city
Oct. 7, 2024
Mari and Juan were living a very tense moment at a family level.
—
Patrick J. McDonnell, Los Angeles Times, 17 Oct. 2024
Los Angeles has long been the epicenter of a growing houselessness crisis, where sprawling tent encampments and unsheltered people are a daily reality.
—Afdhel Aziz, Forbes, 16 Oct. 2024
The Ivy League school in New York was the epicenter of pro-Palestinian protests at US college campuses this spring.
—Sabrina Souza, CNN, 16 Oct. 2024
If things run to plan, by this time next year the Villa Noailles could be the epicenter of a nascent Centre National de la Mode, a national fashion hub underpinned by more formal structure and sponsorship.
—Tina Isaac-Goizé, Vogue, 13 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for epicenter 
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Patrick J. McDonnell, Los Angeles Times, 17 Oct. 2024
Los Angeles has long been the epicenter of a growing houselessness crisis, where sprawling tent encampments and unsheltered people are a daily reality.
—Afdhel Aziz, Forbes, 16 Oct. 2024
The Ivy League school in New York was the epicenter of pro-Palestinian protests at US college campuses this spring.
—Sabrina Souza, CNN, 16 Oct. 2024
If things run to plan, by this time next year the Villa Noailles could be the epicenter of a nascent Centre National de la Mode, a national fashion hub underpinned by more formal structure and sponsorship.
—Tina Isaac-Goizé, Vogue, 13 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for epicenter
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Dictionary Entries Near epicenter
Cite this Entry
“Epicenter.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/epicenter. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.
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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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