gold rush

noun

1
: a rush to newly discovered goldfields in pursuit of riches
2
: the headlong pursuit of sudden wealth in a new or lucrative field
gold rusher noun

Examples of gold rush in a Sentence

the California gold rush of 1849
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.
This old bloke from the Tanami remembered the gold rush days, and probably heard stories about eating Chinamen. Literary Hub, 22 Oct. 2025 State-level proponents say this is the moment to profit from the gold rush. Sharon Goldman, Fortune, 22 Oct. 2025 But California’s gold rush era is the source of many great ghost stories—and ghost towns. Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 18 Oct. 2025 Advertisement Geopolitics is fueling this new gold rush. Charlie Campbell, Time, 15 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for gold rush

Word History

First Known Use

1848, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of gold rush was in 1848

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Cite this Entry

“Gold rush.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gold%20rush. Accessed 30 Oct. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on gold rush

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