world
noun
the earth or globe, considered as a planet.
Showing results for world.
Search instead for
warld.
world
American
[wurld]
/ wɜrld /
noun
-
worlds
plural
-
the earth or globe, considered as a planet.
-
(often initial capital letter) a particular division of the earth.
the Western world.
-
the earth or a part of it, with its inhabitants, affairs, etc., during a particular period.
the ancient world.
-
humankind; the human race; humanity.
The world must eliminate war and poverty.
-
the public generally.
The whole world knows it.
-
the class of persons devoted to the affairs, interests, or pursuits of this life.
The world worships success.
-
a particular class of people, with common interests, aims, etc..
the fashionable world.
-
any sphere, realm, or domain, with all pertaining to it.
a child's world; the world of dreams; the insect world.
-
everything that exists; the universe; the macrocosm.
-
any complex whole conceived as resembling the universe.
the world of the microcosm.
-
one of the three general groupings of physical nature.
animal world; mineral world; vegetable world.
-
any period, state, or sphere of existence.
this world; the world to come.
-
Often worlds. a great deal.
That vacation was worlds of fun.
-
any indefinitely great expanse.
-
any heavenly body.
the starry worlds.
idioms
-
come into the world, to be born.
Her first child came into the world in June.
-
in the world,
-
at all; ever.
I never in the world would have believed such an obvious lie.
-
from among all possibilities.
Where in the world did you find that hat?
-
-
out of this / the world, exceptional; fine.
The chef prepared a roast duck that was out of this world.
-
set the world on fire, to achieve great fame and success.
He didn't seem to be the type to set the world on fire.
-
think the world of, to like or admire greatly.
His coworkers think the world of him.
-
bring into the world,
-
to give birth to; bear.
My grandmother brought nine children into the world.
-
to deliver (a baby).
the doctor brought many children into the world.
-
-
on top of the world. top.
-
world without end, for all eternity; for always.
-
for all the world,
-
for any consideration, however great.
She wouldn't come to visit us for all the world.
-
in every respect; precisely.
You look for all the world like my Aunt Mary.
-
world
1
British
/ wɜːld /
noun
-
the earth as a planet, esp including its inhabitants
-
mankind; the human race
-
people generally; the public
in the eyes of the world
-
social or public life
to go out into the world
-
the universe or cosmos; everything in existence
-
a complex united whole regarded as resembling the universe
-
any star or planet, esp one that might be inhabited
-
(often capital) a division or section of the earth, its history, or its inhabitants
the Western World
the Ancient World
the Third World
-
an area, sphere, or realm considered as a complete environment
the animal world
-
any field of human activity or way of life or those involved in it
the world of television
-
a period or state of existence
the next world
-
the total circumstances and experience of an individual that make up his life, esp that part of it relating to happiness
you have shattered my world
-
a large amount, number, or distance
worlds apart
-
worldly or secular life, ways, or people
-
logic See possible world
-
a large group of people of various kinds
-
-
(of a midwife, doctor, etc) to deliver (a baby)
-
to give birth to
-
-
to be born
-
informal unaware of one's surroundings, esp fast asleep or very drunk
-
(used with a negative) for any inducement, however great
-
in every way; exactly
-
to publish
-
(usually used with a negative) (intensifier)
no-one in the world can change things
-
a man or woman experienced in social or public life
-
nearing death
-
informal exultant, elated, or very happy
-
informal wonderful; excellent
-
to be exceptionally or sensationally successful
-
the benefits from two different or opposed ways of life, philosophies, etc
-
to be extremely fond of or hold in very high esteem
-
a state of mental detachment from other people
-
for ever
-
(modifier) of or concerning most or all countries; worldwide
world politics
a world record
-
(in combination) throughout the world
world-famous
World
2
British
noun
world
More Idioms
Synonym Usage
See earth.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of world
First recorded before 900; Middle English; Old English world, weorold; cognate with Dutch wereld, German Welt, Old Norse verǫld, all from (unnattested) Germanic wer-ald- literally, “age of man” ( see virile ( def. ), werewolf ( def. ), old ( def. )
Explanation
The noun world usually refers to the earth, including both the planet itself and the organisms that live on it. If you say, "I want to get out and see the world," you want to go everywhere and see everything. World can also mean someone's individual experiences — your world changed when you got a cat — or one particular region or group, like an actor famous throughout the Spanish-speaking world. While today you can use the words world and earth interchangeably, world originally meant just human experience; the Old English wer, or man, plus ald, or age, together formed weralt: the age of man.
Vocabulary lists containing world
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
"I heard, I would say, resolve from my colleagues around the world to deliver price stability," he said.
From Barron's ● Oct. 16, 2026
The seemingly limitless possibilities of artificial intelligence to change the world also include a wide-ranging capacity for harm that could leave companies that produce or use AI legally vulnerable.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 16, 2026
For week seven, he takes on former heavyweight boxing world champion Fabio Wardley, who supports Ipswich Town.
From BBC ● Oct. 15, 2026
If we work together, we can have a world that can actually sustain itself.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 15, 2026
For this reason, the treatment of lepers has historically been brutal in many parts of the world.
From "At Last She Stood" by Erin Entrada Kelly
Rojas, a key contributor in the Dodgers’ back-to-back championship seasons, saved the Dodgers’ 2025 World Series with his Game 7 home run.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 16, 2026
He had a career .260 batting average, won two World Series rings and three straight Roy Campanella Awards for his leadership in the Dodgers’ clubhouse.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 16, 2026
Dream rock band Fathom travelled roughly 700km across Australia to play nine shows, setting a new Guinness World Record for most concerts performed in 12 hours across multiple cities.
From BBC ● Oct. 15, 2026
The lacklustre forecast comes as officials and experts converge in Bangkok to discuss economic issues at the Annual Meetings of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank.
From Barron's ● Oct. 15, 2026
Before they sealed up the foundation, Mr. William Hurlbert, the editor of The World, walked over and put one more thing inside.
From "The (Mostly) True Story of Cleopatra's Needle" by Dan Gutman
So the worlds of Woodford and Warsh aren’t as far apart as they seem.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 13, 2026
He says the time commitment involved meant it was impossible to "blend both worlds".
From BBC ● Oct. 8, 2026
The goal of the program, which is looking at 10 ultra-hot lava worlds, is to see if there's a critical temperature over which you start seeing planets with atmospheres.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 7, 2026
TMO: Your runway shows feel less like presentations of clothes and more like fully realized theatrical worlds, complete with characters, sets and a beginning, middle and end.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 7, 2026
He dreamed of worlds ending, and of the sun and the moon being eaten by a wolf.
From "Norse Mythology" by Neil Gaiman
Random Word
Spin the wheel and learn a new word!
Get a wordDefinitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
