on earth

phrase

—used as an intensive
… to find out what on earth he was up to …—Michael Holroyd

Examples of on earth in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
With the enormous distractions and investments in college sports now removed, our institutions of higher learning can focus on their only mission, and that is providing the best, most affordable education on earth for our young people. — Bruce Svare, Sportico.com, 17 Oct. 2026 Anta is a relatively new business, founded in 1991, with the express goal of becoming the biggest athletic company on earth. — Ian Miller Outkick, FOXNews.com, 15 Oct. 2026 Shortly after the Chinese aerospace company LandSpace launched a rocket in northwestern China, its booster—the part needed to thrust the rocket into orbit—successfully detached and landed back on earth. — Kathleen Curlee, Foreign Affairs, 14 Oct. 2026 The umpires were walking past wondering what on earth was going on. — Paul Newman, New York Times, 14 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for on earth

Cite this Entry

“On earth.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/on%20earth. Accessed 21 Oct. 2026.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster