Definitions
01the planet Earth
A1 · Beginner Countable noun
n. the planet that we live on.
n. the planet Earth, often considered in a physical, geopolitical, or environmental context.
日本語:世界※
“The ship sailed all the way around the world in eighty days.”
“Environmental scientists are increasingly concerned about the impact of rising temperatures on the world's polar ice caps.”
02human society
A2 · Elementary Uncountable noun
n. all the people in the world and the way they live together.
n. the collective human experience or the global community of people.
日本語:世間※
“The internet has changed the way the whole world communicates.”
“The leader's speech was broadcast live, reaching a world that was eager for news of a peaceful resolution to the conflict.”
03a specific area of interest
B1 · Intermediate Countable noun
n. a particular group of things, people, or activities.
n. a specific sphere of activity, interest, or profession.
日本語:世界※
“She has always wanted to work in the world of fashion.”
“Navigating the complex world of international finance requires both specialized knowledge and a high degree of professional intuition.”
04gaming/fiction
B1 · Intermediate Countable noun Computing
n. a fictional place or a part of a video game.
n. a fictional realm or a discrete subdivision of a game environment.
“I finally reached the third world in the game after playing for hours.”
“The author spent years developing the history and languages of her fantasy world before writing the first chapter of the novel.”
05a great amount
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun Informal
n. a very large amount of something.
n. a significant or vast amount; often used in the phrase 'a world of difference'.
“Getting a good night's sleep did him a world of good.”
“There is a world of difference between theoretical knowledge and the practical skills gained through years of on-the-job experience.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “world” in context.
Etymology
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *weyh₁-? Proto-Indo-European *wiHrós Proto-Germanic *weraz Proto-Indo-European *h₂el- Proto-Indo-European *h₂életi Proto-Germanic *alaną Proto-Indo-European *-tis Proto-Germanic *-þiz Proto-Germanic *aldiz Proto-Germanic *weraldiz Proto-West Germanic *weraldi Old English weorold Middle English world English world From Middle English world, from Old English weorold (“world”), from Proto-West Germanic weraldi, from Proto-Germanic weraldiz (“lifetime, human existence, world”, literally “age/era of man”), equivalent to wer (“man”) + eld (“age”). Eclipsed non-native Middle English mounde (“world”), from Old French monde, munde (“world”). Cognates Cognate with Scots warld (“world”), North Frisian Wārel, wäält, wråål (“world”), Saterland Frisian Waareld (“world”), West Frisian wrâld (“world”), Afrikaans wêreld (“world”), Bavarian Wöd (“world”), Dutch wereld (“world”), German, Luxembourgish Welt (“world”), German Low German Wereld, Werld (“world”), Vilamovian wełt (“world”), Yiddish וועלט (velt, “world”), Danish verden (“world”), Elfdalian wärd (“world”), Faroese verð, verøld (“world”), Icelandic veröld (“world”), Norn vrildan (“the earth”), Norwegian Bokmål verd, verden (“(the) world”), Norwegian Nynorsk verd (“world”), Swedish värld (“world”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
Related words
Idioms
07. end of the world
09. have the world by the tail
10. it takes all kinds to make a world
Show all 37
20. outside world
22. shot heard round the world
23. the whole world and his dog
24. the world over
31. why in the world
34. world record
35. worlds apart
36. worlds away
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.A1 MoversIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.2.0–3.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 1.0–1.50–23TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.120–224
- Frequency
- Very common
- Level
- A1 · BeginnerOxford
- Updated
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
QR code
englishreference.com/q/world
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「日本語」「カタカナ語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0