earthworm
Americannoun
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earthworms
plural
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any one of numerous annelid worms that burrow in soil and feed on soil nutrients and decaying organic matter.
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Archaic. a mean or groveling person.
noun
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
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
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
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
Looking for answers on our own planet begins with the sandworm’s namesake—the humble earthworm.
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
They found alien earthworm species in 97% of studied soils across North America, with alien occupation higher in the northern part of the continent and lower in the south and west.
From Science Daily ● Feb. 9, 2024
If you cut them in two, each part simply grew back to form a whole earthworm.
From "Purple Hibiscus" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Burning reed beds is a quick way to restore them, but everyone knew it should be avoided because it killed soil invertebrates, such as snails and earthworms.
From Slate ● Apr. 28, 2026
The March full Moon is known as the Worm Moon as it refers to when earthworms begin to emerge from the soil as the weather warms in springtime.
From BBC ● Feb. 28, 2026
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
Save the pandas is a more popular slogan than save the earthworms, and most people likely care more about protecting flowers than a rare grass or fungi.
From Salon ● Oct. 20, 2024
The woodchips are home to earthworms, and of course, there are hens loose in the woodchips, eating the worms.
From "The Omnivore's Dilemma" by Michael Pollan
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
