Noun the countries of the world He is famous throughout the world. They sailed around the world. It can be found anywhere in the world. The product is shipped halfway around the world. The problem occurs in many parts of the world. The island was cut off from the rest of the world. They want to see the world. the Eastern and Western worlds people living in the English-speaking worldAdjective She broke the world record. They won the world championship. a world authority on gemstones See More
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
The cargo and troop transport plane is the largest aircraft in the Air Force and, at seven stories tall, the tallest aircraft in the world. Joe Heim, Washington Post, 18 Sep. 2022 This subgroup within the Commonwealth lies at the forefront of global offshore wealth, home to some of the strongest secrecy and tax exemption laws in the world. Kojo Koram, The New Republic, 18 Sep. 2022 Hong Kong, along with mainland China, has kept in place some of the strictest Covid measures in the world even as most countries in the region drop restrictions and open borders to travelers. Felix Tam, Fortune, 18 Sep. 2022 Being back at Wrigley on a warm September afternoon was another reminder of the days when everything seemed right in the world. Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 17 Sep. 2022 She may at any moment by the caprice of fate be summoned to the most exalted position in the greatest Commonwealth in the world. Alison Fishburn, Longreads, 17 Sep. 2022 Invitations to the funeral were sent to heads of state of nearly every country in the world except Syria, Venezuela, Afghanistan, Russia, Belarus and Myanmar. Hyder Abbasi, NBC News, 17 Sep. 2022 At high risk is the Chinese giant salamander, one of the largest amphibians in the world. Heather Chen, CNN, 17 Sep. 2022 Bugatti made clear that its new $5 million Mistral roadster would be available only to current Chiron owners—though, with 500 Chiron examples in the world against the Mistral’s announced 99-vehicle cap, that hardly sorted the list. Robert Ross, Robb Report, 17 Sep. 2022
Adjective
Drama ensues, and so does a multi-year, cross-world tale of loving your family. Katherine Singh, refinery29.com, 26 Apr. 2022 The new numbers are just the latest evidence that this is the world American workers are living in right now.New York Times, 3 Dec. 2021 At one point, Borgov offers Beth a draw, which would leave her co-world champion. Ariana Romero, refinery29.com, 26 Oct. 2020 The former two-time United States Olympian and multi-world record holder was going to make sure his student-athletes stayed safe while addressing their physical and mental needs. Emmett Hall, sun-sentinel.com, 17 Sep. 2020 The goal was to turn mainland Chinese citizens and world public opinion against the movement. Lenora Chu, The Christian Science Monitor, 8 June 2020 Tel Aviv’s beaches are world famous, and with miles of shoreline, there’s a perfect beach for everyone. Patricia Doherty, Travel + Leisure, 12 Feb. 2020 But instead of making China’s case, Beijing’s ham-handed international efforts have largely failed to sway world public opinion.New York Times, 20 Aug. 2019 The Swiss Air Force was left red-faced after its world famous flight demonstration team—the Patrouille Suisse—accidentally performed their routine over the wrong Swiss town. Kyle Mizokami, Popular Mechanics, 11 July 2019 See More
Word History
Etymology
Noun
Middle English, from Old English woruld human existence, this world, age (akin to Old High German weralt age, world); akin to Old English wer man, eald old — more at virile, old
First Known Use
Noun
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a