earthshaking
Americanadjective
adjective
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of earthshaking
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English; see origin at earth, shaking
Explanation
When something is earthshaking, it’s so loud or significant that it feels like the whole world could tremble in response. Whether it’s a sound loud enough to shake the earth or an event significant enough to impact the entire world, earthshaking moments leave a lasting impression. A thunderous explosion that can be felt all over town is an example of a literally earthshaking event. In a figurative sense, an earthshaking discovery would be the existence of life on other planets.
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.
These aren’t earthshaking revelations, but some of the habits of the best teams are counterintuitive.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 23, 2026
On a later program, Salonen led an earthshaking performance of his Dada-inspired “Karawane” for chorus and orchestra that brought the house down.
From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 20, 2023
The convergence is a reminder of just how earthshaking #MeToo was for Hollywood.
From New York Times ● Oct. 24, 2022
“It’s not an earthshaking aspect of the investigation.”
From Washington Post ● Oct. 13, 2022
Nothing much more but the earthshaking report that Henry Hahn’s gray mare had wandered off again.
From "Hattie Big Sky" by Kirby Larson
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.
