world
noun
the earth or globe, considered as a planet.
world
American
[wurld]
/ wɜrld /
noun
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worlds
plural
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the earth or globe, considered as a planet.
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(often initial capital letter) a particular division of the earth.
the Western world.
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the earth or a part of it, with its inhabitants, affairs, etc., during a particular period.
the ancient world.
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humankind; the human race; humanity.
The world must eliminate war and poverty.
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the public generally.
The whole world knows it.
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the class of persons devoted to the affairs, interests, or pursuits of this life.
The world worships success.
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a particular class of people, with common interests, aims, etc..
the fashionable world.
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any sphere, realm, or domain, with all pertaining to it.
a child's world; the world of dreams; the insect world.
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everything that exists; the universe; the macrocosm.
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any complex whole conceived as resembling the universe.
the world of the microcosm.
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one of the three general groupings of physical nature.
animal world; mineral world; vegetable world.
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any period, state, or sphere of existence.
this world; the world to come.
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Often worlds. a great deal.
That vacation was worlds of fun.
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any indefinitely great expanse.
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any heavenly body.
the starry worlds.
idioms
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come into the world, to be born.
Her first child came into the world in June.
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in the world,
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at all; ever.
I never in the world would have believed such an obvious lie.
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from among all possibilities.
Where in the world did you find that hat?
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out of this / the world, exceptional; fine.
The chef prepared a roast duck that was out of this world.
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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.
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think the world of, to like or admire greatly.
His coworkers think the world of him.
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bring into the world,
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to give birth to; bear.
My grandmother brought nine children into the world.
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to deliver (a baby).
the doctor brought many children into the world.
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on top of the world. top.
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world without end, for all eternity; for always.
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for all the world,
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for any consideration, however great.
She wouldn't come to visit us for all the world.
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in every respect; precisely.
You look for all the world like my Aunt Mary.
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world
1
British
/ wɜːld /
noun
-
the earth as a planet, esp including its inhabitants
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mankind; the human race
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people generally; the public
in the eyes of the world
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social or public life
to go out into the world
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the universe or cosmos; everything in existence
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a complex united whole regarded as resembling the universe
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any star or planet, esp one that might be inhabited
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(often capital) a division or section of the earth, its history, or its inhabitants
the Western World
the Ancient World
the Third World
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an area, sphere, or realm considered as a complete environment
the animal world
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any field of human activity or way of life or those involved in it
the world of television
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a period or state of existence
the next world
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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
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a large amount, number, or distance
worlds apart
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worldly or secular life, ways, or people
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logic See possible world
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a large group of people of various kinds
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(of a midwife, doctor, etc) to deliver (a baby)
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to give birth to
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to be born
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informal unaware of one's surroundings, esp fast asleep or very drunk
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(used with a negative) for any inducement, however great
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in every way; exactly
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to publish
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(usually used with a negative) (intensifier)
no-one in the world can change things
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a man or woman experienced in social or public life
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nearing death
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informal exultant, elated, or very happy
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informal wonderful; excellent
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to be exceptionally or sensationally successful
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the benefits from two different or opposed ways of life, philosophies, etc
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to be extremely fond of or hold in very high esteem
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a state of mental detachment from other people
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for ever
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(modifier) of or concerning most or all countries; worldwide
world politics
a world record
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(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:
Also on its front page, plans to set a "Greenwich Moon Time" come amid world powers' "lunar ambitions".
From BBC ● Aug. 22, 2026
The former reality TV star capped the evening with flyovers by military jets followed by a world record firework display featuring 850,000 rockets in 40 minutes.
From Barron's ● Aug. 22, 2026
Regulators around the world have been ramping up enforcement against social media companies that violate laws around protecting children's data, privacy and safety.
From Barron's ● Aug. 21, 2026
Mr. Maleki calls Dubai “Iran’s window to the world economy.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 21, 2026
Clare gestured to the world around them, the prism of light deepening by the minute, the fitful winds blowing their fur in every direction.
From "The Undead Fox of Deadwood Forest" by Aubrey Hartman
It carries a story suggesting that the UK is "planning new bid for men's football World Cup".
From BBC ● Aug. 22, 2026
He’s been silent amid rampant speculation that Mr. Walter will also sell the Dodgers as the team steamrolls to a possible third consecutive World Series triumph.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 21, 2026
The film, described as “Ocean’s Eleven” meets “Inglourious Basterds,” is based on Operation Fortitude, an effort during World War II in which double agents set a trap for Adolf Hitler and his armies.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 21, 2026
After World War II, Federal Reserve officials wanted to stop helping the Treasury Department keep interest rates low, leading to a fierce struggle with the Truman White House.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 21, 2026
In the World story, Maggie said she was eight years old and Kate, six, when they began dropping apples and snapping toes in Hydesville, where she also falsely claims they were born.
From "American Spirits" by Barb Rosenstock
When the interests of Silicon Valley diverged from those of the military and intelligence worlds, the connection withered.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 19, 2026
Huettl said the Leapmotor partnership would combine German industrial know-how with the Chinese company's software expertise "to create the best of both worlds".
From Barron's ● Aug. 16, 2026
He has described the prehistoric-looking Dalmatian pelicans, which “have eyes of such tremulous glacial depths—the bluish-gray sclera like an ice sheet being cored by the black iris—that they appear to hold entire worlds inside them.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 14, 2026
In his first years, Dudamel explored standard symphonic repertory with immersions into the symphonies and worlds of Beethoven, Schubert, Schumann, Brahms, Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninoff, Dvorak and Ives, often in context with new music.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 12, 2026
The woman and the man, Life and Life’s Yearning, will come out from inside the ash tree that holds the worlds together.
From "Norse Mythology" by Neil Gaiman
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.
