world

/wə:ld/
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Definition
  1. Noun:

    • The planet Earth and all life upon it: Refers to the physical planet we inhabit and its human population.
    • A particular sphere of activity, interest, or existence: Denotes a distinct domain, realm, or group of people with shared characteristics.
    • Human society and its concerns: The secular or material aspects of human life, as opposed to spiritual matters.
    • A very large amount or extent: Used to emphasize a great quantity or degree.
  2. Adjective:

    • Global or worldwide: Involving or affecting the entire Earth.
Usage and Examples
  • Noun (The planet/humanity):

    • The world is facing a climate crisis.
    • She traveled around the world in eighty days.
    • The invention changed the world.
  • Noun (A particular sphere or domain):

    • He is a famous figure in the world of finance.
    • The animal world is full of fascinating creatures.
    • The digital world has transformed communication.
  • Noun (Secular/social life):

    • He is a man of the world, experienced in practical affairs.
    • Monks often renounce the world and its temptations.
  • Noun (A large amount):

    • That vacation did me a world of good.
    • There's a world of difference between theory and practice.
  • Adjective (Global):

    • The company is a world leader in technology. (Here, 'world' functions as a noun used attributively to modify 'leader'.)
    • They organized a world tour for the artist.
Advanced Usage and Nuances
  • "For all the world": Exactly, precisely.

    • He looked for all the world like a seasoned professor.
  • "Out of this world": Extremely good, wonderful.

    • The dessert was out of this world.
  • "The world is your oyster": You have the freedom and opportunity to do anything or go anywhere you want in life.

    • After graduation, she felt the world was her oyster.
  • "To think the world of someone/something": To have a very high opinion of; to love or admire greatly.

    • She thinks the world of her mentor.
Variants and Related Words
  • Worldly (adj): Concerned with material values or ordinary life rather than spiritual affairs; experienced in the ways of society.

    • He was more interested in worldly success than spiritual growth.
  • Worldwide (adj/adv): Extending or reaching throughout the world.

    • The product has achieved worldwide recognition.
  • World-class (adj): Of the highest quality in the world.

    • The city built a world-class stadium.
Synonyms
  • Globe (n): The Earth (often considered as a sphere).
  • Earth (n): The planet on which we live.
  • Realm (n): A kingdom; a field or domain of activity or interest.
  • Universe (n): All existing matter and space considered as a whole; a particular sphere of activity or experience.
Common Collocations and Phrases
  • Around the world: In or to many countries throughout the globe.
  • End of the world: A complete catastrophe (often used hyperbolically).
  • New World: The western hemisphere, especially the Americas.
  • Old World: Europe, Asia, and Africa, especially regarded historically.
  • Real world: The existing state of affairs, as opposed to one imagined or theoretical.
  • Third World: (Historically) developing nations of Africa, Asia, and Latin America.
  • World view / Weltanschauung (n): A particular philosophy of life or conception of the world.
Idioms
  • Dead to the world: Fast asleep.

    • After the long hike, he was dead to the world.
  • Not for the world or Wouldn't do something for the world: Would absolutely not do something.

    • I wouldn't hurt her feelings for the world.
  • On top of the world: Extremely happy.

    • Winning the award made her feel on top of the world.
  • Worlds apart: Completely different.

    • Their opinions on politics are worlds apart.
  • World without end: Forever, eternally (often used in religious contexts).

Adjective
  1. involving the entire earth; not limited or provincial in scope
    • global war
    • global monetary policy
    • neither national nor continental but planetary
    • a world crisis
    • of worldwide significance
Noun
  1. all of the living human inhabitants of the earth
    • all the world loves a lover
    • she always used `humankind' because `mankind' seemed to slight the women
  2. the concerns of this life as distinguished from heaven and the afterlife
    • they consider the church to be independent of the world
  3. a part of the earth that can be considered separately
    • the outdoor world
    • the world of insects
  4. people in general considered as a whole
    • he is a hero in the eyes of the public
  5. the 3rd planet from the sun; the planet we live on
    • the Earth moves around the sun
    • he sailed around the world
  6. all of your experiences that determine how things appear to you
    • his world was shattered
    • we live in different worlds
    • for them demons were as much a part of reality as trees were
  7. people in general; especially a distinctive group of people with some shared interest
    • the Western world
  8. everything that exists anywhere
    • they study the evolution of the universe
    • the biggest tree in existence