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 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 One important consideration remained: to ensure that the asteroid samples inside the container were not contaminated by any earthly material. Daniel Wu, Washington Post, 31 Jan. 2024 His life’s work, legacy, & most importantly…his LOVE…will far exceed his earthly presence. Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 18 Dec. 2023 The Chinese New Year, for example, is also a time to mark the change in the heavenly stems and earthly branches along with rituals—like Shou Sui, the lighting of candles or oil lamps throughout the night to ward off any evil. Alexis Bennett Parker, Vogue, 11 Jan. 2024 At SpaceX, by contrast, Musk and company have largely floated above such earthly distractions. Steve Mollman, Fortune, 24 Dec. 2023 His earthly existence began in the Basque town of Pasajes, with tragedy; his father was executed by Franco’s fascist regime. Laird Borrelli-Persson, Vogue, 6 Dec. 2023

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 Mar. 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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