Advertisement

Advertisement

View synonyms for earthly

earthly

[ urth-lee ]

adjective

, earth·li·er, earth·li·est.
  1. of or relating to the earth, especially as opposed to heaven; worldly.

    Synonyms: mortal, temporal, secular

    Antonyms: divine, spiritual

  2. possible or conceivable:

    an invention of no earthly use to anyone.



earthly

/ ˈɜːθlɪ /

adjective

  1. of or characteristic of the earth as opposed to heaven; material or materialistic; worldly
  2. informal.
    usually used with a negative conceivable or possible; feasible (in such phrases as not an earthly ( chance ), etc)
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012


Discover More

Derived Forms

  • ˈearthliness, noun
Discover More

Other Words From

  • earthli·ness noun
  • super·earthly adjective
Discover More

Word History and Origins

Origin of earthly1

First recorded before 1000; Middle English erth(e)ly, Old English eorthlīc. See earth, -ly
Discover More

Synonym Study

Earthly, terrestrial, worldly, mundane refer to that which is concerned with the earth literally or figuratively. Earthly now almost always implies a contrast to that which is heavenly: earthly pleasures; our earthly home. Terrestrial, from Latin, is the dignified equivalent of earthly, and it applies to the earth as a planet or to the land as opposed to the water: the terrestrial globe; terrestrial areas. Worldly is commonly used in the sense of being devoted to the vanities, cares, advantages, or gains of this present life to the exclusion of spiritual interests or the life to come: worldly success; worldly standards. Mundane, from Latin, is a formal equivalent of worldly and suggests that which is bound to the earth, is not exalted, and therefore is commonplace: mundane pursuits.
Discover More

Example Sentences

At 29,000 feet, the peak is the highest of all earthly mountains, but its height is one of Mount Everest’s least impressive features.

Others go around the table declaring why they’re grateful for our earthly bounty.

A painting may serve no earthly purpose other than to reflect, provoke, or inspire.

From Quartz

Apodaca’s smile-inducing video has now been watched more than 50 million times across all earthly platforms.

From Fortune

Activities beyond the earthly plane are currently governed by the United Nations Outer Space Treaty of 1967.

From Fortune

You are, for example, still subject to earthly gravity, and not in orbit.

He then slumped to the floor, to the amazement of his audience, having departed this plane of earthly existence.

Members of the cult offer body sacrifices and worship the bones of their dead ancestors to ward off earthly evil.

I never was one,” he insisted—“even on the basis of an earthly definition of a saint as a sinner who keeps trying.

But if a genius is a quasi-divine being, a certain exemption from earthly laws of conduct is only natural.

They will reach you by the hands of Mr. Mackenzie, a worldly-minded Scotch merchant, but honest as to earthly things.

Life is represented as struggling to free herself from the gross earthly forms that cling to her.

And if an earthly father would act thus wisely and thus kindly, "how much more your Father which is in Heaven?"

The minister's eye kept steady to one point; to raise the country he governed, to the utmost pinnacle of earthly grandeur.

His first hard struggle for deliverance was coincident with his last hour of earthly peace.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement


earth lodgeearthman