Definition

Noun: 1. The contemporary era; the present period in human history characterized by current social, cultural, technological, and political conditions. It refers to the world as it exists now, with its distinct circumstances, ideas, and ways of life, often contrasted with earlier historical periods.

Usage

The term "modern world" is used as a singular noun phrase to describe the collective state of global society in the recent and current era. It often implies the context shaped by industrialization, digital technology, globalization, and contemporary thought. - It is typically used with the definite article "the" (e.g., the modern world). - It functions as a subject or object in a sentence.

Examples

• As a subject:
  • The modern world is interconnected through the internet.
  • The modern world presents both opportunities and challenges.
• As an object:
  • Technology has dramatically shaped the modern world.
  • It's difficult to imagine life in the modern world without smartphones.

Advanced Usage

• "in the modern world": A common prepositional phrase used to specify the context of an action or state.
  • Success in the modern world often requires digital literacy.
• Used to highlight contrasts with the past.
  • Customs that were common a century ago seem foreign in the modern world.

Variants and Related Words

• Modernity (n): The quality or condition of being modern; the ideas and practices characteristic of modern times.
  • The novel explores the tension between tradition and modernity.
• Modern era (n): A historical period often considered to begin from the late Middle Ages or the Renaissance onward, extending to the present.
  • The scientific revolution was a key development in the modern era. (Note: "Modern world" itself is a fixed noun phrase. Related terms like "modern society" or "contemporary world" are distinct phrases.)

Synonyms

• Contemporary world: The world of the present time.
• Present age: The current period in history.
• Current era: The existing historical epoch.

Related Idioms and Phrases

• A product of the modern world: Used to describe something that exists or is made possible only by recent developments.
  • Social media influencers are a product of the modern world.
• To keep pace with the modern world: To adapt and stay updated with current trends and technologies.
  • Companies must innovate to keep pace with the modern world.

Noun

1. the circumstances and ideas of the present age
   • in modern times like these