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
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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:
The collateral damage to the rest of the world as the two countries try to seek out each other’s economic pressure points could prove significant.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 12, 2026
Yaws is a tropical disease that affects more than 150,000 people around the tropical world and can cause permanent disability.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 12, 2026
Spain's World Cup winner Pedro Porro, who De Zerbi said is the "best in the world" in his role, currently occupies Spence's preferred right-back position at Spurs.
From BBC ● Aug. 12, 2026
The government said flags would be lowered to half-staff on official buildings, as well as at Colombian embassies around the world, "in honor of all the dead."
From Barron's ● Aug. 12, 2026
Psychologists, surgeons, and neurologists came from all over the world to present scientific papers on frontal cortex injuries.
From "Phineas Gage" by John Fleischman
Lakers general manager and president of basketball Rob Pelinka called the two-time defending World Series champion Dodgers and Lakers “brother-sister” organizations.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 12, 2026
The 26-year-old has emerged as a key target for the Serie A champions, having enhanced his reputation at the World Cup, at which he made eight appearances.
From BBC ● Aug. 12, 2026
And he led negotiations for China's accession to the World Trade Organization in 2001 -- a move seen as consolidating the country's transformation from an isolated economy under Mao to the marketplace of the world.
From Barron's ● Aug. 12, 2026
Walter, who also owns the two-time defending World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers and is an investor in English Premier League club Chelsea, bought a majority stake of the Lakers last June.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 12, 2026
With Maps of the Country Through Which the Routes Pass, in the Northern, Middle, and Eastern States, a book whose title was as grand and cocksure as the New World it so thrillingly described.
From "The Hidden Gallery" by Maryrose Wood
“This is like the best of all worlds for retirees,” says one investment specialist.
From Barron's ● Aug. 7, 2026
“I had personal connections in these worlds, which helped us go much deeper than in my other stories,” he says.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 6, 2026
And it’s fun to hear artists from other musical worlds in a new setting.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 4, 2026
But not everyone likes disappearing off into fictional worlds.
From BBC ● Jul. 31, 2026
Another way of making this argument is in terms of Popper’s three worlds.
From "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton
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.
