Jump To:

• word
  word

  noun

  a unit of language, consisting of one or more spoken sounds or their written representation, that functions as a principal carrier of meaning. Words are composed of one or more morphemes and are either the smallest units susceptible of independent use or consist of two or three such units combined under certain linking conditions, as with the loss of primary accent that distinguishes the one-word blackbird (primary stress on “black”, and secondary stress on “bird”) from black bird (primary stress on both words). Words are usually separated by spaces in writing, and are distinguished phonologically, as by accent, in many languages.
• Word
  Word

  noun

  Christianity the 2nd person of the Trinity
• -word
  -word

  combining form

  (preceded by the and an initial letter) a euphemistic way of referring to a word by its first letter because it is considered to be in some way unmentionable by the user

word

American  

[wurd] / wɜrd /

noun

words plural

1. a unit of language, consisting of one or more spoken sounds or their written representation, that functions as a principal carrier of meaning. Words are composed of one or more morphemes and are either the smallest units susceptible of independent use or consist of two or three such units combined under certain linking conditions, as with the loss of primary accent that distinguishes the one-word blackbird (primary stress on “black”, and secondary stress on “bird”) from black bird (primary stress on both words). Words are usually separated by spaces in writing, and are distinguished phonologically, as by accent, in many languages.

2. (used in combination with the first letter of an offensive or unmentionable word, the first letter being lowercase or uppercase, with or without a following hyphen).

   My mom married at 20, and she mentions the m-word every time I meet someone she thinks is eligible.

3. words,

   1. speech or talk.

      Can you express your feelings in words?

      Words mean little when action is called for.

   2. the text or lyrics of a song as distinguished from the music.

   3. contentious or angry speech; a quarrel.

      We had words and she walked out on me.

4. a short talk or conversation.

   Marston, I'd like a word with you.

5. an expression or utterance.

   Before you do anything rash, let me give you a word of warning.

   Synonyms:

   declaration, statement

6. warrant, assurance, or promise.

   I give you my word I'll be there.

   Synonyms:

   pledge

7. news; tidings; information.

   We received word of his death.

   Synonyms:

   account, report, message

8. a verbal signal, as a password, watchword, or countersign.

   Synonyms:

   shibboleth, catchword

9. an authoritative utterance, or command.

   His word was law.

10. Also called machine word.  Computers. a string of bits, characters, or bytes treated as a single entity by a computer, particularly for numeric purposes.

11. Christianity. the Word,

    1. Also called the Word of God,.  Also called God's Word.  the Scriptures; the Bible.

    2. the Logos, identified with Christ.

    3. the message of the gospel of Christ.

12. a proverb or motto.

---

verb (used with object)

words, present (3rd person singular) worded, past participle, past wording present participle

1. to express in words, or to select words to express; phrase.

   The way they’ve worded these instructions is confusing.

interjection

1. Slang. what you have just said is true.

   “Raising a kid is the hardest thing you’ll ever do.” “Word.”

idioms

1. have a word, to talk briefly.

   Tell your aunt that I would like to have a word with her.

2. take someone at their word, to take someone's statement to be literal and true.

3. of many words, talkative; loquacious; wordy.

   a person of many words but of little wit.

4. man of his word / woman of her word, a person who can be trusted to keep a promise; a reliable person.

5. weigh one's words, to choose one's words carefully in speaking or writing.

   He paused to weigh his words before speaking.

6. be as good as one's word, to hold to one's promises.

7. in a word, in summary; in short: Also in one word.

   In a word, there was no comparison.

8. eat one's words, to retract one's statement, especially with humility.

   They predicted he'd fail, but he made them eat their words.

9. in so many words, clearly or bluntly and without hedging; explicitly.

   She told them in so many words to get out.

10. at a word, in immediate response to an order or request; in an instant.

    When I was ill, they came at a word and took the situation in hand.

11. of few words, not talkative; laconic or taciturn.

    a woman of few words but of profound thoughts.

12. have no words for, to be unable to describe.

    She had no words for the sights she had witnessed.

13. take the words (right) out of one's mouth, to say exactly what one was about to say.

    “It’s a long way, so we should leave early.” “You took the words right out of my mouth!”

14. keep one's word, to fulfill one's promise.

    I said I'd meet the deadline, and I kept my word.

15. (upon) my word! (used as an exclamation of surprise or astonishment.)

16. put in a good word for, to speak favorably of; commend: Also put in a word for.

    He put in a good word for her with the boss.

word ¹ British  

/ wɜːd /

noun

1. one of the units of speech or writing that native speakers of a language usually regard as the smallest isolable meaningful element of the language, although linguists would analyse these further into morphemes

2. an instance of vocal intercourse; chat, talk, or discussion

   to have a word with someone

3. an utterance or expression, esp a brief one

   a word of greeting

4. news or information

   he sent word that he would be late

5. a verbal signal for action; command

   when I give the word, fire!

6. an undertaking or promise

   I give you my word

   he kept his word

7. an autocratic decree or utterance; order

   his word must be obeyed

8. a watchword or slogan, as of a political party

   the word now is ``freedom''

9. computing a set of bits used to store, transmit, or operate upon an item of information in a computer, such as a program instruction

10. doing what one has undertaken or promised to do

11. at once

12. orally rather than by written means

13. briefly or in short

14. 1. an exclamation of surprise, annoyance, etc

    2. an exclamation of agreement

15. given to or noted for keeping one's promises

    I am a man of my word

16. to make favourable mention of (someone); recommend

17. to assume that someone means, or will do, what he or she says

    when he told her to go, she took him at his word and left

18. to accept or believe what someone says

19. 1. the closing remark of a conversation or argument, esp a remark that supposedly settles an issue

    2. the latest or most fashionable design, make, or model

       the last word in bikinis

    3. the finest example (of some quality, condition, etc)

       the last word in luxury

20. the proper or most fitting expression

    cold is not the word for it, it's freezing!

21. 1. archaic on my honour

    2. an exclamation of surprise, annoyance, etc

22. 1. (of a report, transcription, etc) using exactly the same words as those employed in the situation being reported; verbatim

    2. translated by substituting each word in the new text for each corresponding word in the original rather than by general sense

23. a promise; oath

24. (modifier) of, relating to, or consisting of words

    a word list

---

verb

1. (tr) to state in words, usually specially selected ones; phrase

2. informal to inform or advise (a person)

Word ² British  

/ wɜːd /

noun

1. Christianity the 2nd person of the Trinity

2. Often called: the Word of God.  Scripture, the Bible, or the Gospels as embodying or representing divine revelation

---

-word ³ British  

combining form

1. (preceded by the and an initial letter) a euphemistic way of referring to a word by its first letter because it is considered to be in some way unmentionable by the user

   the C-word, meaning cancer

---

word More Idioms  

More idioms and phrases containing word

• actions speak louder than words
• at a loss (for words)
• at a word
• break one's word
• eat one's words
• famous last words
• fighting words
• four-letter word
• from the word go
• get a word in edgewise
• give the word
• go back on (one's word)
• good as one's word
• hang on someone's words
• have a word with
• have words with
• in brief (a word)
• in other words
• in so many words
• keep one's word
• last word
• leave word
• man of his word
• mark my words
• mince matters (words)
• mum's the word
• not breathe a word
• not open one's mouth (utter a word)
• of few words
• picture is worth a thousand words
• play on words
• put in a good word
• put into words
• put words in someone's mouth
• swallow one's words
• take someone at his or her word
• take the words out of someone's mouth
• true to (one's word)
• weasel word
• weigh one's words

---

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• outword
  verb (used with object)
• interword
  adjective
• well-worded
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• words
  plural

Participles

• wording
  present
• worded
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• word
  simple
• words
  simple
• have worded
  perfect
• has worded
  perfect
• am wording
  progressive
• are wording
  progressive
• is wording
  progressive
• have been wording
  perfect progressive
• has been wording
  perfect progressive

Past

• worded
  simple
• had worded
  perfect
• was wording
  progressive
• were wording
  progressive
• had been wording
  perfect progressive

Future

• will word
  simple
• will have worded
  perfect
• will be wording
  progressive
• will have been wording
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of word

First recorded before 900; Middle English, Old English; cognate with Dutch woord, German Wort, Old Norse orth, orð, Gothic waurd, waúrd, all from Germanic wurdam (unattested); akin to Latin verbum “word,” Greek rhḗtōr (dialect wrḗtōr ) “public speaker, orator, rhetorician,” Old Prussian wirds “word,” Lithuanian var̃das “name”

Explanation

A word is a unit of language that native speakers can agree upon as a separate and distinct unit of meaning. Languages are made up of words. You must like words since you are here, on this word site. If you say "What's the good word?" you’re not actually asking for a word — you’re asking, "How are you?" or "What's doing?" But if you ask "What's the word on that restaurant?" you're asking for an opinion. You can also "give your word," but that means that you're promising something; you're giving an oath. If your friend asks what you think of his girlfriend, you may want to word your response carefully — to watch your words.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

word Word -word words worded wording

Despite word of potential renewed peace talks with Pakistan as an intermediary, tensions in the long-simmering conflict remained high.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 24, 2026

Weijia Jiang, president of the White House Correspondents Association which organizes the dinner, said in June as she announced the re-do that "we will not allow an act of violence to have the last word."

From Barron's ● Jul. 24, 2026

Although it has improved, she sometimes still cannot find a word and uses strategies learned through speech and language therapy.

From BBC ● Jul. 23, 2026

A satisfying puzzle break: What’s a four-letter word for “Those who often hear a siren song”? Treat your brain to some delightful wordplay in today’s crossword.

From Slate ● Jul. 22, 2026

“Haven’t heard that word in a long, long time.”

From "Legendary Frybread Drive-In" by Cynthia Leitich Smith

Word spread that Sillie’s missing brother-in-law had sent a cellphone text message: “We are trapped, help.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 30, 2026

Word quickly spread that a fan watched the match in his underwear, and the story went worldwide.

From BBC ● Jun. 25, 2026

Word of mouth and trust among friends at country clubs and high-net-worth social circles helped provide a ready supply of victims and give him a “halo effect” of exclusivity.

From MarketWatch ● May 27, 2026

He compared autonomy to the development of Microsoft Word -- concentrating on swarms was like obsessing over the button that makes text italic, instead of the whole programme.

From Barron's ● May 15, 2026

Mr. Lemoncello’s Phenomenal Picture Word Puzzler, one of Kyle’s favorites, was teetering on the top.

From "Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library" by Chris Grabenstein

While most other papers were carrying only sketchy Yalta stories, the Times set in type and printed the full text of the 200,000 -word Yalta Conference record, along with news stories, pictures and editorial comment.

From Time Magazine Archive

These parents read the new constitutional guarantees of freedom for themselves, and demanded they be enforced, long before any Supreme Court told them what those words meant.

From Slate ● Jul. 25, 2026

Traditionally, sociologists interpreted his words as drawing a hard line between studying the truth and acting on it.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 25, 2026

"I didn't pay attention to my son's words, so I lost my son. But I hope others won't repeat the same mistake."

From BBC ● Jul. 24, 2026

In other words, raises are still coming for many workers — but the average size of those pay bumps is becoming more modest.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 24, 2026

Somehow, I think she knows the words on my mind.

From "Legendary Frybread Drive-In" by Cynthia Leitich Smith

Mendel Uminer, a translator, scholar and literary-journal publisher, did not have a Collyer situation when he received a sternly worded letter from his building’s management company.

From Salon ● Jul. 23, 2026

For many it’s a deal breaker—I’m paraphrasing from more strongly worded protests.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 11, 2026

Cannes created the Palme d’Or in 1955, replacing the verbosely worded “Grand Prix of the International Film Festival” honor that was given to directors.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 12, 2026

“Since our product is a legal contract, we take great care to pre-emptively avoid dispute resolutions by crafting carefully worded contracts that contain provisions for all possible event scenarios,” a Kalshi spokesperson told Barron’s.

From Barron's ● May 12, 2026

I worded the article for Matt after discussing it with Bando, and made it sound very convincing without giving myself up.

From "My Side of the Mountain" by Jean Craighead George

Stop AI was plotting its next stunt, draping banners from the top of the Golden Gate Bridge, when Kirchner and Allen got into a screaming match over the wording, Allen and other members say.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 12, 2026

But its vague wording was ripe for misinterpretation.

From Slate ● Jul. 9, 2026

Burnham on Monday pledged "to strive for equivalent living conditions in all parts of Britain" and said that this would borrow from Germany's "basic law", which has a similar wording.

From BBC ● Jun. 29, 2026

The Kremlin said Friday it had not yet seen the video but that it appeared to have "strange wording".

From Barron's ● Jun. 29, 2026

Bobby changed some of the wording of the protest before it was mailed, making it much stronger and less diplomatic.

From "Endgame" by Frank Brady

Related Words

• account
• advice
• announcement
• comment
• expression
• information
• message
• news
• remark
• report
• rumor
• saying
• speech
• talk