1world 
/ˈwɚld/ noun
plural worlds /ˈwɚld/ noun 1 a the world : the earth and all the people and things on it
▪ the countries/people/languages of the world ▪ He is famous throughout the world. ▪ They sailed around the world. ▪ people from (all) around/across the world = people from all over the world ▪ the tallest building in the (whole/entire) world = the world's tallest building ▪ It can be found anywhere/everywhere in the world. ▪ The product is shipped halfway around/across the world. ▪ The problem occurs in many/other/different parts of the world. ▪ The island was cut off from the rest of the world. ▪ They want to see/travel the world.
b [count] : a part of the world and the people and things that exist there
▪ the Eastern and Western worlds ▪ the industrialized world ▪ people living in the English-speaking world — see also first world, new world, old world, third world 2 [count] : human society
▪ the history of the world ▪ the ancient and modern worlds ▪ I felt alone in the world. ▪ She became depressed and withdrew from the world. ▪ In an ideal/perfect world, no one would go hungry. ▪ ambitious students who want to change the world ▪ She seems ignorant of the ways of the world. ◊The real world is the world where everyone lives, works, and deals with everyday problems.
▪ After college, she went out into the real world and got a job. ▪ He seems out of touch with the real world. 3 the world : the people in the world
▪ She felt that the world was against her. ▪ We had no help or support. It was just us against the world. ▪ They announced their discovery to the world. ▪ He sat in a café watching the world go by. [=watching people go by] ▪ The world watched as he attempted to break the Olympic record. ▪ She felt the eyes of the world watching her. ▪ It's a private matter. I wish you wouldn't tell the whole world about it! ◊The outside world refers to the people who live outside of a particular place or who do not belong to a particular group.
▪ The inmates have little contact with the outside world. ▪ a local artist who was unknown to the outside world 4 [count] a : a particular kind of interest, activity, or social situation, or the people who are involved in it
▪ the art/music/fashion world ▪ the business and financial worlds ▪ the world of the rich and famous — see also twilight world
b : a group of things of a particular type
▪ the animal/plant/insect world
c : a particular environment
▪ the natural world ▪ exploring the underwater world ▪ Technology is forever changing our world. 5 [count] a : a particular part of human life and experience
▪ the physical/material/spiritual world
b : the life and experiences of a particular person
▪ His (whole/entire) world fell apart when his wife left him. ▪ She acts as if she doesn't have a care in the world. [=she acts as if she has no worries at all] 6 [count] : a planet where there is life : a planet that is like Earth
▪ stories about other worlds ▪ a creature from another world 7 [singular] informal : a great amount of something
▪ He's in a world of trouble. [=a lot of trouble] ▪ The new mattress made a world of difference. ▪ A vacation would do you a world of good. 8 the world : all that is important : everything
▪ I would give my children the world if I could. ▪ She means the world to me. [=she is extremely important to me; I care about her very much] ▪ It would mean the world to me if you came with me. ▪ He thinks the world of you. [=he thinks very highly of you]
▪ the countries/people/languages of the world ▪ He is famous throughout the world. ▪ They sailed around the world. ▪ people from (all) around/across the world = people from all over the world ▪ the tallest building in the (whole/entire) world = the world's tallest building ▪ It can be found anywhere/everywhere in the world. ▪ The product is shipped halfway around/across the world. ▪ The problem occurs in many/other/different parts of the world. ▪ The island was cut off from the rest of the world. ▪ They want to see/travel the world.
b [count] : a part of the world and the people and things that exist there
▪ the Eastern and Western worlds ▪ the industrialized world ▪ people living in the English-speaking world — see also first world, new world, old world, third world
▪ the history of the world ▪ the ancient and modern worlds ▪ I felt alone in the world. ▪ She became depressed and withdrew from the world. ▪ In an ideal/perfect world, no one would go hungry. ▪ ambitious students who want to change the world ▪ She seems ignorant of the ways of the world. ◊The real world is the world where everyone lives, works, and deals with everyday problems.
▪ After college, she went out into the real world and got a job. ▪ He seems out of touch with the real world.
▪ She felt that the world was against her. ▪ We had no help or support. It was just us against the world. ▪ They announced their discovery to the world. ▪ He sat in a café watching the world go by. [=watching people go by] ▪ The world watched as he attempted to break the Olympic record. ▪ She felt the eyes of the world watching her. ▪ It's a private matter. I wish you wouldn't tell the whole world about it! ◊The outside world refers to the people who live outside of a particular place or who do not belong to a particular group.
▪ The inmates have little contact with the outside world. ▪ a local artist who was unknown to the outside world
▪ the art/music/fashion world ▪ the business and financial worlds ▪ the world of the rich and famous — see also twilight world
b : a group of things of a particular type
▪ the animal/plant/insect world
c : a particular environment
▪ the natural world ▪ exploring the underwater world ▪ Technology is forever changing our world.
▪ the physical/material/spiritual world
b : the life and experiences of a particular person
▪ His (whole/entire) world fell apart when his wife left him. ▪ She acts as if she doesn't have a care in the world. [=she acts as if she has no worries at all]
▪ stories about other worlds ▪ a creature from another world
▪ He's in a world of trouble. [=a lot of trouble] ▪ The new mattress made a world of difference. ▪ A vacation would do you a world of good.
▪ I would give my children the world if I could. ▪ She means the world to me. [=she is extremely important to me; I care about her very much] ▪ It would mean the world to me if you came with me. ▪ He thinks the world of you. [=he thinks very highly of you]
all the time in the world
: a great deal of time to do something
▪ Hurry up! We don't have all the time in the world!
▪ Hurry up! We don't have all the time in the world!
a world away from
: completely different from (something)
▪ This small village is a world away from the hustle and bustle of the city.
▪ This small village is a world away from the hustle and bustle of the city.
come down in the world
: to become less wealthy, successful, etc.
▪ It is sad to see how he has come down in the world.
▪ It is sad to see how he has come down in the world.
come into the world
formal + literary : to be born
▪ Their son came into the world at 10:32 p.m. on January 14, 2003.
▪ Their son came into the world at 10:32 p.m. on January 14, 2003.
dead to the world — see 1dead
for all the world
: in every way : exactly
▪ The copy looked for all the world like the original.
▪ The copy looked for all the world like the original.
for the world
informal : for any reason — used to make a statement more forceful ▪ I wouldn't miss your wedding for the world.
in the world
informal : among many possibilities — used to make a question or statement more forceful ▪ What in the world [=on earth] are you talking about? ▪ Where in the world were you? ▪ How in the world could you do that to her? ▪ This is the best apple pie in the world. ▪ There is nothing in the world I would like better than to go to your wedding.
in your own world or in a world of your own
◊If you are/live in a world of your own or are/live in your own (little) world, you spend so much time thinking about something that you do not notice what is happening around you.
▪ I tried to talk to him, but he was in his own little world and didn't seem to hear what I was saying.
▪ I tried to talk to him, but he was in his own little world and didn't seem to hear what I was saying.
(it's a) small world
— used to show surprise when you meet someone you know at an unexpected place or find out that you share a friend, acquaintance, etc., with another person ▪ You know him, too? Wow, it's a small world.
move up in the world
: to become more wealthy, successful, etc.
▪ He has really moved up in the world.
▪ He has really moved up in the world.
not long for this world
: about to die soon
▪ His grandfather is not long for this world.
▪ His grandfather is not long for this world.
not the end of the world — see 1end
on top of the world — see 1top
out of this world
promise (someone) the world — see 2promise
set the world on fire also chiefly Brit set the world alight
informal : to be very successful and attract a lot of attention
▪ The company is doing all right, but they haven't exactly set the world on fire.
▪ The company is doing all right, but they haven't exactly set the world on fire.
the best of all (possible) worlds
: the best possible situation
▪ The current economic situation is the best of all possible worlds for investors.
▪ The current economic situation is the best of all possible worlds for investors.
the best/worst of both worlds
◊When you have the best of both worlds, you have all the advantages of two different situations and none of the disadvantages.
▪ I have the best of both worlds—a wonderful family and a great job. When you have the worst of both worlds, you have all the disadvantages of two different situations and none of the advantages. ▪ Living in the suburbs is the worst of both worlds—there's neither the excitement of the city nor the quiet of the country.
▪ I have the best of both worlds—a wonderful family and a great job. When you have the worst of both worlds, you have all the disadvantages of two different situations and none of the advantages. ▪ Living in the suburbs is the worst of both worlds—there's neither the excitement of the city nor the quiet of the country.
the (whole) world over
: everywhere in the world
▪ His books have entertained readers the world over.
▪ His books have entertained readers the world over.
the world is your oyster — see oyster
world (is) coming to
◊People say that they don't know what the world is coming to or they ask What is the world coming to? when they are shocked or disgusted by something that has happened.
▪ I don't know what the world is coming to when so many poor children have to go to bed hungry every night.
▪ I don't know what the world is coming to when so many poor children have to go to bed hungry every night.
world revolves around 1 ◊If you think the world revolves around you, you think that your own life, problems, etc., are more important than other people's.
▪ I can't just drop everything to help you. The world doesn't revolve around you, you know. 2 ◊If your world revolves around (someone or something), that person or thing is extremely important in your life.
▪ Their world revolves around their children.
▪ I can't just drop everything to help you. The world doesn't revolve around you, you know.
▪ Their world revolves around their children.
world(s) apart
◊If something is a world apart from something else, or if two people or things are worlds apart, they are completely different.
▪ The place where she lives now is a world apart from the small town where she grew up. ▪ They are worlds apart [=they disagree very much] on most issues.
▪ The place where she lives now is a world apart from the small town where she grew up. ▪ They are worlds apart [=they disagree very much] on most issues.
— see also man of the world, woman of the world
