other world

A traveler gazes into a shimmering portal to another world.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • A realm beyond earthly existence: "other world" refers to a spiritual or supernatural domain, such as the afterlife, heaven, hell, or a mythical plane, distinct from the physical world we inhabit.
   • An alternate reality: In speculative or metaphorical contexts, "other world" can denote a different dimension, a parallel universe, or a state of being far removed from ordinary experience.

Usage Examples

• Noun (afterlife):

  • Many ancient cultures believed that the soul travels to an other world after death. (A spiritual realm beyond earthly life.)
  • He spoke of visions of an other world filled with light and peace. (A supernatural plane of existence.)

• Noun (alternate reality):

  • The novel describes a portal that leads to an other world where magic is real. (A different, fantastical dimension.)
  • For a moment, she felt as if she had stepped into an other world of pure imagination. (A metaphorical state distinct from normal reality.)

Advanced Usage

• "the other world" (with definite article): Often used to refer specifically to the afterlife or the realm of the dead.

  • In his dreams, he seemed to communicate with beings from the other world. (The realm of spirits or the deceased.)

• "otherworldly" (derived adjective): Describing something that seems to belong to a different, often supernatural, world.

  • The landscape had an otherworldly beauty, like a scene from another planet. (Strange or unearthly in appearance.)

Variants and Related Words

• Otherworldly (adj): relating to or characteristic of an imaginary or spiritual world; supernatural or ethereal.

  • The music had an otherworldly quality that captivated the audience. (Supernatural or transcendent.)

• Otherworldliness (n): the quality of being otherworldly; a focus on spiritual or imaginary realms.

  • Her poetry is marked by a sense of otherworldliness and mystery. (A preoccupation with the supernatural.)

Synonyms

• Afterlife: the life or existence believed to follow death.
• Beyond: a realm or state that is outside ordinary human experience (often used in phrases like "the great beyond").
• Netherworld: the underworld or realm of the dead (often with negative connotations).
• Parallel universe: a hypothetical separate reality coexisting with our own.

Related Idioms

• Out of this world: extremely impressive or extraordinary (often used informally).

  • The dessert was out of this world — I've never tasted anything like it. (Remarkably good, as if from another realm.)

• A world away: completely different or remote from something.

  • The quiet village felt a world away from the bustling city. (A stark contrast, like a separate reality.)

Phrasal Verbs (None directly applicable)

• No common phrasal verbs exist with "other world" as a fixed phrase; it is typically used as a noun or in prepositional phrases (e.g., "from another world," "in an other world").