word
Americannoun
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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.
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(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.
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words,
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speech or talk.
Can you express your feelings in words?
Words mean little when action is called for.
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the text or lyrics of a song as distinguished from the music.
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contentious or angry speech; a quarrel.
We had words and she walked out on me.
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a short talk or conversation.
Marston, I'd like a word with you.
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an expression or utterance.
Before you do anything rash, let me give you a word of warning.
- Synonyms:
- declaration, statement
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warrant, assurance, or promise.
I give you my word I'll be there.
- Synonyms:
- pledge
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news; tidings; information.
We received word of his death.
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a verbal signal, as a password, watchword, or countersign.
- Synonyms:
- shibboleth, catchword
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an authoritative utterance, or command.
His word was law.
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Also called machine word. Computers. a string of bits, characters, or bytes treated as a single entity by a computer, particularly for numeric purposes.
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Christianity. the Word,
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Also called the Word of God,. Also called God's Word. the Scriptures; the Bible.
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the Logos, identified with Christ.
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the message of the gospel of Christ.
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a proverb or motto.
verb (used with object)
interjection
idioms
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have a word, to talk briefly.
Tell your aunt that I would like to have a word with her.
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take someone at their word, to take someone's statement to be literal and true.
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of many words, talkative; loquacious; wordy.
a person of many words but of little wit.
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man of his word / woman of her word, a person who can be trusted to keep a promise; a reliable person.
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weigh one's words, to choose one's words carefully in speaking or writing.
He paused to weigh his words before speaking.
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be as good as one's word, to hold to one's promises.
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in a word, in summary; in short: Also in one word.
In a word, there was no comparison.
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eat one's words, to retract one's statement, especially with humility.
They predicted he'd fail, but he made them eat their words.
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in so many words, clearly or bluntly and without hedging; explicitly.
She told them in so many words to get out.
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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.
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of few words, not talkative; laconic or taciturn.
a woman of few words but of profound thoughts.
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have no words for, to be unable to describe.
She had no words for the sights she had witnessed.
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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!”
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keep one's word, to fulfill one's promise.
I said I'd meet the deadline, and I kept my word.
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(upon) my word! (used as an exclamation of surprise or astonishment.)
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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.
noun
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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
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an instance of vocal intercourse; chat, talk, or discussion
to have a word with someone
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an utterance or expression, esp a brief one
a word of greeting
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news or information
he sent word that he would be late
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a verbal signal for action; command
when I give the word, fire!
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an undertaking or promise
I give you my word
he kept his word
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an autocratic decree or utterance; order
his word must be obeyed
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a watchword or slogan, as of a political party
the word now is ``freedom''
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computing a set of bits used to store, transmit, or operate upon an item of information in a computer, such as a program instruction
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doing what one has undertaken or promised to do
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at once
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orally rather than by written means
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briefly or in short
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an exclamation of surprise, annoyance, etc
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an exclamation of agreement
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given to or noted for keeping one's promises
I am a man of my word
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to make favourable mention of (someone); recommend
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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
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to accept or believe what someone says
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the closing remark of a conversation or argument, esp a remark that supposedly settles an issue
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the latest or most fashionable design, make, or model
the last word in bikinis
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the finest example (of some quality, condition, etc)
the last word in luxury
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the proper or most fitting expression
cold is not the word for it, it's freezing!
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archaic on my honour
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an exclamation of surprise, annoyance, etc
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(of a report, transcription, etc) using exactly the same words as those employed in the situation being reported; verbatim
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translated by substituting each word in the new text for each corresponding word in the original rather than by general sense
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a promise; oath
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(modifier) of, relating to, or consisting of words
a word list
verb
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(tr) to state in words, usually specially selected ones; phrase
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informal to inform or advise (a person)
noun
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Christianity the 2nd person of the Trinity
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Often called: the Word of God. Scripture, the Bible, or the Gospels as embodying or representing divine revelation
combining form
Other Word Forms
- interword adjective
- outword verb (used with object)
- well-worded adjective
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”
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.
They softened their words and calibrated their tone in ordinary conversations.
In other words, we could preview our futures before we live them.
From BBC
“This time it’s different”—John Templeton famously called those the four most dangerous words in investing.
From Barron's
"There are no words - they went through hell."
From BBC
She was confident that her words would survive her.
Definitions 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.
