Definition

The point on the Earth's surface that is directly above where an earthquake starts, or a central point of something significant.

Example

The city was located at the epicenter of the earthquake, causing widespread damage.

Conversation

Did you hear about the earthquake yesterday?

Yeah, I saw it on the news; they said the epicenter was near the coast.

That's really scary! I can't believe it was so close to us.

I know, right? It makes you think about how prepared we really are.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Epicenter → It is formed from "epi-" (meaning upon or over) and "kenter" (from Greek "kentron", meaning center). The word "epicenter" refers to the point on the Earth's surface directly above the focus of an earthquake, thus being the center point of seismic activity.

Memory Tip

Imagine a point that is 'upon' ('epi-') the 'center' ('kenter') of an earthquake's activity — that's how you remember that the epicenter is the main point of impact.

Visually Confused Words