intercontinental
adjective
in·ter·con·ti·nen·tal
ˌin-tər-ˌkän-tə-ˈnen-tᵊl 
1
: extending among continents or carried on between continents
2
: capable of traveling between continents
intercontinental ballistic missile
Examples of intercontinental in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Kim said after that test the development of the IRBM system was as important to North Korea’s security as its intercontinental ballistic missiles, which in theory could reach the United States mainland.
—
Brad Lendon, CNN, 2 Apr. 2024
By the 1600s, the Portuguese had arrived, trading goods and introducing intercontinental slavery.
—Mark Jenkins, Smithsonian Magazine, 2 Apr. 2024
In addition to many shore excursions, the fares include round-trip, intercontinental flights in business class from the U.S. and Canada; food; drinks including wine and spirits; Wi-Fi; valet laundry and more.
—Nathan Diller, USA TODAY, 27 Mar. 2024
In recent years, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has overseen a massive buildup in Pyongyang’s ballistic missile program, with dozens of tests in a year, including long-range intercontinental ballistic missiles that could in theory reach the United States mainland.
—Richard Roth, CNN, 29 Mar. 2024
At the same time, the first intercontinental telegraph wire was laid in 1858, connecting North America to Europe.
—TIME, 18 Mar. 2024
Of the remaining nuclear warheads, 1,185 are intercontinental ballistic missiles and are deployed on bases or at sea around the world.
—Sarah Cottrell, Parents, 7 Mar. 2024
The development of integrated circuits, key to modern computers and first produced by Texas Instruments in 1958, was powered by an avalanche of defense dollars, and initially deployed in the guidance system for the Minuteman II intercontinental nuclear missile.
—Andrew Cockburn, Harper's Magazine, 20 Jan. 2024
Another customer operates a factory that produces command posts for Russia’s nuclear-capable Yars intercontinental ballistic missile system.
—Pei-Lin Wu, Washington Post, 1 Feb. 2024
Brad Lendon, CNN, 2 Apr. 2024
By the 1600s, the Portuguese had arrived, trading goods and introducing intercontinental slavery.
—Mark Jenkins, Smithsonian Magazine, 2 Apr. 2024
In addition to many shore excursions, the fares include round-trip, intercontinental flights in business class from the U.S. and Canada; food; drinks including wine and spirits; Wi-Fi; valet laundry and more.
—Nathan Diller, USA TODAY, 27 Mar. 2024
In recent years, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has overseen a massive buildup in Pyongyang’s ballistic missile program, with dozens of tests in a year, including long-range intercontinental ballistic missiles that could in theory reach the United States mainland.
—Richard Roth, CNN, 29 Mar. 2024
At the same time, the first intercontinental telegraph wire was laid in 1858, connecting North America to Europe.
—TIME, 18 Mar. 2024
Of the remaining nuclear warheads, 1,185 are intercontinental ballistic missiles and are deployed on bases or at sea around the world.
—Sarah Cottrell, Parents, 7 Mar. 2024
The development of integrated circuits, key to modern computers and first produced by Texas Instruments in 1958, was powered by an avalanche of defense dollars, and initially deployed in the guidance system for the Minuteman II intercontinental nuclear missile.
—Andrew Cockburn, Harper's Magazine, 20 Jan. 2024
Another customer operates a factory that produces command posts for Russia’s nuclear-capable Yars intercontinental ballistic missile system.
—Pei-Lin Wu, Washington Post, 1 Feb. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'intercontinental.' 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
circa 1855, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Time Traveler
The first known use of intercontinental was
circa 1855
Dictionary Entries Near intercontinental
Cite this Entry
“Intercontinental.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/intercontinental. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
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Kids Definition
intercontinental
adjective
in·ter·con·ti·nen·tal
ˌint-ər-ˌkänt-ᵊn-ˈent-ᵊl
1
: extending among or carried on between continents
intercontinental trade
2
: capable of traveling from one continent to another
an intercontinental ballistic missile
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