world

[ wurld ]

noun

1. the earth or globe, considered as a planet.
2. (often initial capital letter) a particular division of the earth:

   the Western world.

3. the earth or a part of it, with its inhabitants, affairs, etc., during a particular period:

   the ancient world.

4. humankind; the human race; humanity:

   The world must eliminate war and poverty.

5. the public generally:

   The whole world knows it.

6. the class of persons devoted to the affairs, interests, or pursuits of this life:

   The world worships success.

7. a particular class of people, with common interests, aims, etc.:

   the fashionable world.

8. any sphere, realm, or domain, with all pertaining to it:

   a child's world; the world of dreams; the insect world.

9. everything that exists; the universe; the macrocosm.
10. any complex whole conceived as resembling the universe:

    the world of the microcosm.

11. one of the three general groupings of physical nature:

    animal world; mineral world; vegetable world.

12. any period, state, or sphere of existence:

    this world; the world to come.

13. Often worlds. a great deal:

    That vacation was worlds of fun.

14. any indefinitely great expanse.
15. any heavenly body:

    the starry worlds.

world

¹

/ wɜːld /

noun

1. the earth as a planet, esp including its inhabitants
2. mankind; the human race
3. people generally; the public

   in the eyes of the world

4. social or public life

   to go out into the world

5. the universe or cosmos; everything in existence
6. a complex united whole regarded as resembling the universe
7. any star or planet, esp one that might be inhabited
8. often capital a division or section of the earth, its history, or its inhabitants

   the Third World

   the Western World

   the Ancient World

9. an area, sphere, or realm considered as a complete environment

   the animal world

10. any field of human activity or way of life or those involved in it

    the world of television

11. a period or state of existence

    the next world

12. 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

13. a large amount, number, or distance

    worlds apart

14. worldly or secular life, ways, or people
15. logic See possible world
16. all the world and his wife
    a large group of people of various kinds
17. bring into the world
    1. (of a midwife, doctor, etc) to deliver (a baby)
    2. to give birth to
18. come into the world
    to be born
19. dead to the world informal.
    unaware of one's surroundings, esp fast asleep or very drunk
20. for the world
    used with a negative for any inducement, however great
21. for all the world
    in every way; exactly
22. give to the world
    to publish
23. in the world
    usually used with a negative (intensifier)

    no-one in the world can change things

24. man of the world or woman of the world
    a man or woman experienced in social or public life
25. not long for this world
    nearing death
26. on top of the world informal.
    exultant, elated, or very happy
27. informal.
    wonderful; excellent
28. set the world on fire
    to be exceptionally or sensationally successful
29. the best of both worlds
    the benefits from two different or opposed ways of life, philosophies, etc
30. think the world of
    to be extremely fond of or hold in very high esteem
31. world of one's own
    a state of mental detachment from other people
32. world without end
    for ever
33. modifier of or concerning most or all countries; worldwide

    world politics

    a world record

34. in combination throughout the world

    world-famous

World

²

noun

1. a man-made archipelago of 300 reclaimed islands built off the coast of Dubai in the shape of a map of the world. Area: 63 sq km (24 sq miles)

Other Words From

• counter·world noun
• inter·world noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of world¹

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” ( virile ( def ), werewolf ( def ), old ( def )

Word History and Origins

Origin of world¹

Old English w ( e ) orold, from wer man + ald age, life; related to Old Frisian warld, wrald, Old Norse verold, Old High German wealt (German Welt )

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. bring into the world,
   1. to give birth to; bear:

      My grandmother brought nine children into the world.

   2. to deliver (a baby):

      the doctor brought many children into the world.

2. come into the world, to be born:

   Her first child came into the world in June.

3. for all the world,
   1. for any consideration, however great:

      She wouldn't come to visit us for all the world.

   2. in every respect; precisely:

      You look for all the world like my Aunt Mary.

4. in the world,
   1. at all; ever:

      I never in the world would have believed such an obvious lie.

   2. from among all possibilities:

      Where in the world did you find that hat?

5. out of this / the world, exceptional; fine:

   The chef prepared a roast duck that was out of this world.

6. 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.

7. think the world of, to like or admire greatly:

   His coworkers think the world of him.

8. world without end, for all eternity; for always.
9. on top of the world. top ¹( def 48 ).

More idioms and phrases containing world

• all over the place (world)
• best of both worlds
• bring into the world
• come up (in the world)
• dead to the world
• for all the world
• go out (of the world)
• in one's own world
• it's a small world
• laugh and the world laughs with you
• man of the world
• move up (in the world)
• not for all the tea in china (for the world)
• on earth (in the world), what
• on top of the world
• out of this world
• set the world on fire
• think a lot (the world) of
• third world
• with the best will in the world

Synonym Study

See earth.

Example Sentences

The American president is, after all, the commander in chief of the world’s most formidable fighting machine, and the figure ultimately responsible for the nation’s safety and security.

From Los Angeles Times

He also praised Trump for tapping Elon Musk, a longtime friend of McCarthy and the world’s richest person, to help lead a new office to overhaul government.

From Los Angeles Times

“Villa Vie Odyssey will be spending a month in the Caribbean before embarking on a 4-month South American journey featuring 2 Panama Canal transits, 2 World Wonders, the Chilean Fjords, an Antarctic sail-by, Carnival in Rio and an 8-day endeavor deep into the Amazon River,” it said.

From Salon

You can cruise around the world for the next four years, if your bank account can handle it.

From Salon

They do a lot of seemingly silly things in an attempt to re-create aspects of the world in a lab, where they can be monitored and replicated over and over and over.

From Slate

Related Words

• area
• business
• field
• life
• province
• realm
• system