the earth as a planet, esp including its inhabitants humankind; the human race people generally; the public: in the eyes of the world social or public life: to go out into the world the universe or cosmos; everything in existence a complex united whole regarded as resembling the universe any star or planet, esp one that might be inhabited - (often capital)
a division or section of the earth, its history, or its inhabitants: the Western World, the Ancient World, the developing world an area, sphere, or realm considered as a complete environment: the animal world any field of human activity or way of life or those involved in it: the world of television a period or state of existence: the next world the total circumstances and experience of an individual that make up his or her life, esp that part of it relating to happiness: you have shattered my world a large amount, number, or distance: worlds apart worldly or secular life, ways, or people - bring into the world ⇒
(of a midwife, doctor, etc) to deliver (a baby) to give birth to - come into the world ⇒
to be born - for all the world ⇒
in every way; exactly - give to the world ⇒
to publish - in the world ⇒ (usually used with a negative)
(intensifier): no-one in the world can change things - man of the world, woman of the world ⇒
a man or woman experienced in social or public life - not long for this world ⇒
nearing death - on top of the world ⇒
exultant, elated, or very happy - out of this world ⇒
wonderful; excellent - set the world on fire ⇒
to be exceptionally or sensationally successful - the best of both worlds ⇒
the benefits from two different or opposed ways of life, philosophies, etc - think the world of ⇒
to be extremely fond of or hold in very high esteem - world of one's own ⇒
a state of mental detachment from other people - world without end ⇒
for ever - (modifier)
of or concerning most or all countries; worldwide: world politics, a world record - (in combination)
throughout the world: world-famous
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025
world /wɜrld/USA pronunciation
n.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025- the earth when it is considered as a planet:[singular* the + ~]how life developed in the world.
- everything that exists;
the universe:[countable]In a world of three dimensions, time is the fourth dimension. - [countable] a planet;
a body in space that is not a star. - a particular part or division of the earth:[singular* the + ~]the Western world; the ancient world.
- the human race;
humanity:[singular* the + ~]feeding the whole world. - the general public:[singular* the + ~]The world worships success and money.
- a class or group of people with common interests:[countable]the literary world.
- an area, sphere, realm, or domain of activity or existence:[countable]the world of dreams; the world of sports.
- one of the general groupings of physical nature:[countable]the animal world.
- Often, worlds. [plural] a great deal: [~ + of + plural noun]a world of problems.[~ + of + uncountable noun]a world of trouble on my mind.
- Idioms bring (someone) into the world, [bring + object + into + the + world]
- to give birth to;
bear. - to deliver (a baby).
- to give birth to;
- Idioms come into the world, to be born.
- Idioms for (all) the world:
- [with a negative word or phrase] for anything, however great;
under any circumstances;
definitely (not):I wouldn't harm my children for all the world. - in every respect;
precisely:He looks for all the world like his twin brother.
- [with a negative word or phrase] for anything, however great;
- Idioms in the world:
- at all:without a care in the world.
- (used to intensify a question):How in the world will you get home?
- Idioms out of this world, extraordinary;
wonderful:The dinner was simply out of this world. - Idioms world without end, for all eternity;
forever.
world
(wûrld),USA pronunciation n.
- the earth or globe, considered as a planet.
- (often cap.) a particular division of the earth:the Western world.
- the earth or a part of it, with its inhabitants, affairs, etc., during a particular period:the ancient world.
- humankind;
the human race;
humanity:The world must eliminate war and poverty. - the public generally:The whole world knows it.
- the class of persons devoted to the affairs, interests, or pursuits of this life:The world worships success.
- a particular class of people, with common interests, aims, etc.:the fashionable world.
- any sphere, realm, or domain, with all pertaining to it:a child's world;the world of dreams;the insect world.
- everything that exists;
the universe;
the macrocosm. - any complex whole conceived as resembling the universe:the world of the microcosm.
- one of the three general groupings of physical nature:animal world;mineral world;vegetable world.
- any period, state, or sphere of existence:this world; the world to come.
- Often, worlds. a great deal:That vacation was worlds of fun.
- any indefinitely great expanse.
- any heavenly body:the starry worlds.
- bring into the world:
- to give birth to;
bear:My grandmother brought nine children into the world. - to deliver (a baby):the doctor brought many children into the world.
- to give birth to;
- come into the world, to be born:Her first child came into the world in June.
- for all the world:
- for any consideration, however great:She wouldn't come to visit us for all the world.
- in every respect;
precisely:You look for all the world like my Aunt Mary.
- in the world:
- at all;
ever:I never in the world would have believed such an obvious lie. - from among all possibilities:Where in the world did you find that hat?
- at all;
- on top of the world. See top 1 (def. 25).
- out of this or the world, exceptional;
fine:The chef prepared a roast duck that was out of this world. - 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.
- think the world of, to like or admire greatly:His coworkers think the world of him.
- world without end, for all eternity;
for always.
- Gmc *wer-ald- literally, age of man
- bef. 900; Middle English; Old English world, weorold; cognate with Dutch wereld, German Welt, Old Norse verǫld, all
- 1.See corresponding entry in Unabridged See earth.
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
'the world' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
AFIS
- Adon Olam
- Advaita
- Africa
- Amazon
- Anaximander
- Angel Falls
- Anglican
- Aniakchak
- Antarctic Convergence
- Antichrist
- Arabic
- Aral Sea
- Arecibo Observatory
- Armageddon
- Aso
- Assam
- Atlantic Ocean
- Baikal
- Bandaranaike
- Banks
- Beckenbauer
- Blyth
- Bolivia
- Bretton Woods Conference
- British Council
- British Empire
- CARE
- Canada
- Caspian Sea
- Caucasia
- Caucasian
- Cerro de Pasco
- Chernobyl
- Chichester
- China
- Christendom
- Churchill
- Churchill Falls
- Coca-Cola
- Colombo
- Colossus of Rhodes
- Congreve
- Cotopaxi
- Damascus
- Dead Sea
- absolute
- acupuncture
- advent
- afterworld