earthly

adjective

earth·​ly ˈərth-lē How to pronounce earthly (audio)
1
a
: characteristic of or belonging to this earth
b
: relating to the human race's actual life on this earth
2
: possible
of what earthly use is it?
earthliness noun
Choose the Right Synonym for earthly

earthly, worldly, mundane mean belonging to or characteristic of the earth.

earthly often implies a contrast with what is heavenly or spiritual.

abandoned earthly concerns and entered a convent

worldly and mundane both imply a relation to the immediate concerns and activities of human beings, worldly suggesting tangible personal gain or gratification

worldly goods

and mundane suggesting reference to the immediate and practical.

a mundane discussion of finances

Examples of earthly in a Sentence

a sermon against our obsession with earthly pursuits
Recent Examples on the Web The earthly location is the former Charlotte Pipe and Foundry site, once thought to be a possible home for a new stadium for Carolina Panthers and Charlotte FC billionaire owner David Tepper. Joe Marusak, Charlotte Observer, 8 Apr. 2024 Those who use this as an excuse to hate Jews tend to forget that Jesus, in His earthly body, was a Jew, and therefore loved them. Bea L. Hines, Miami Herald, 29 Mar. 2024 Godzilla and Kong each have a complicated relationship with their place in the earthly cosmos, and the story jumps through major hoops to transform them from foes to comrades. Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 28 Mar. 2024 The new film is professionally made, well-acted, entertaining enough, and possessed of no earthly reason to exist aside from the care and feeding of intellectual property. Ty Burr, Washington Post, 20 Mar. 2024 No one has any earthly clue how 2024 will go, given the unevenness of the franchise’s recent track record. Bryce Miller, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Mar. 2024 Tulum has long been a center for creatives, who come to be inspired by the natural landscape and earthly energy. Meagan Drillinger, Travel + Leisure, 3 Mar. 2024 The movie promises an exploration of human connections amidst the search for meaning beyond our earthly concerns. Travis Bean, Forbes, 26 Feb. 2024 Their solution was to place satellites in very low orbits that were comparatively close to their earthly subjects. William J. Broad, New York Times, 16 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'earthly.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of earthly was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near earthly

Cite this Entry

“Earthly.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/earthly. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.

Kids Definition

earthly

adjective
earth·​ly ˈərth-lē How to pronounce earthly (audio)
1
: belonging to or having to do with the earth
earthly joys
2
: imaginable, possible
that tool is of no earthly use
earthliness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on earthly

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