earthworm

American  

[urth-wurm] / ˈɜrθˌwɜrm /

noun

• earthworms
  plural

1. any one of numerous annelid worms that burrow in soil and feed on soil nutrients and decaying organic matter.

2. Archaic. a mean or groveling person.

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earthworm British  

/ ˈɜːθˌwɜːm /

noun

1. any of numerous oligochaete worms of the genera Lumbricus, Allolobophora, Eisenia, etc, which burrow in the soil and help aerate and break up the ground

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Regionalisms

The earthworm, a commonly used bait for angling, is also called an angleworm in the Northern U.S. and a fishworm in the Northern and Midland U.S. and in New England. It is called a fishing worm in parts of the Midland and Southern U.S., and a wiggler in the Southern U.S. Because the worm often comes to the surface of the earth when the ground is cool or wet, it is also called a nightwalker in New England, a nightcrawler, chiefly in the Northern, North Midland, and Western U.S., and a dew worm, chiefly in the Inland North and Canada. It is also called a red worm in the North Central, South Midland, and Southern U.S.

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• earthworms
  plural

Etymology

Origin of earthworm

First recorded in 1400–50, earthworm is from the late Middle English word ertheworm. See earth, worm

Explanation

An earthworm is a small, legless, tube-shaped animal that lives in soil. Gardeners are familiar with earthworms, which are common in healthy garden dirt. Earthworms are not only happy to burrow in the dirt of your garden, they're also incredibly useful — they improve the fertility of soil by converting its organic matter to humus, which helps plants grow. The burrowing of an earthworm is also good for the soil's structure, introducing small tunnels that allow it to drain and air to circulate throughout. They may not be pretty, but earthworms are very helpful.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

earthworm earthworms

In a wordless two-page spread, a dog lopes solemnly toward the pickle, trailed by a mournful earthworm.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 14, 2026

The study also examined the impacts of the discs cut from the teabags on a species of earthworm, Eisenia fetida, which has a critical role in soil nutrient turnover as it consumes organic matter.

From Science Daily ● May 28, 2024

“In contrast to the earthworm, you don’t get a deformation of the body shape,” says Jayne.

From Slate ● Mar. 8, 2024

Overall, aliens represent 23% of the continent's 308 earthworm species, and account for 12 of the 13 most widespread earthworm species.

From Science Daily ● Feb. 9, 2024

I knew about labs, knew we would be studying cells and life systems this year, and that by midyear, we would dissect an earthworm.

From "The Thing About Jellyfish" by Ali Benjamin

Now living in a clean, cold-water tank and fed on earthworms, Kev has grown from two inches to 12.

From BBC ● Apr. 26, 2026

Her “first animal research program,” according to her mother, was a study of earthworms to determine how they were able to move without legs, a project she carried out in her bed.

From Salon ● Oct. 1, 2025

Now we get the “Slow-Lows,” bottom-feeders who slither on the ground and survive off leftovers from other creatures: earthworms or other easy-to-catch prey.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 18, 2025

The species is known for its long, needlelike bill that can extract earthworms from deep in the ground and the males' elaborate mating dance and "peent" call to attract females, Slezak said.

From Science Daily ● Apr. 19, 2024

Jem parked his fishing car over there, we dug earthworms by the back fence, I planted a bamboo shoot one time and we fought it for twenty years.

From "Go Set a Watchman: A Novel" by Harper Lee