world-building
noun
the process of developing a detailed and plausible fictional world for a novel or story, especially in science fiction, fantasy, and video games.
worldbuilding
-
a variation of
world-building.
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.
The worldbuilding here is excellent and the politics almost too detailed.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 2, 2026
“There’s a tremendous amount of visual imagination and worldbuilding on a scale that I have not seen before in a very long time,” Nolan said.
From Seattle Times ● Feb. 9, 2024
While this volume might leave you craving a single compelling protagonist, its clever worldbuilding and sardonic wit more than compensate.
From Washington Post ● Apr. 7, 2023
The relationship between those characters is now fundamentally changed, and Oxenfurt was relegated to a stereotypical medieval city with no worldbuilding whatsoever.
From Salon ● Jan. 8, 2022
Developer LuGus Studios draws on the cyberpunk genre’s hardboiled roots rather than reaching for elaborate worldbuilding, heavy-handed commentary, or retro-futuristic nostalgia.
From The Verge ● Nov. 15, 2021
