world-building

noun

world-build·​ing ˈwərl(d)-ˈbil-diŋ How to pronounce world-building (audio)
variants or less commonly world building or worldbuilding
: the creation of a fictional world (especially within the science fiction and fantasy genres) that is believable and consistent within the context of the story
The game pushes the limits of the PS4 graphically and packs so much mythos and backstory into its world-building that at times it feels more like a novel than a video game.Patrick Shanley
In my opinion, no one does world-building as well as Kate Elliott. It's subtle … but the world, culture, and societies she creates feel solid. If you think about them when you close the book, you can see how they could work; how the economics could work, how the governing could work, how the cultures formed.Michelle West
In postapocalyptic stories, world building typically emphasizes the new reality: new vocabulary to learn, new systems of government to understand, new social norms to parse.Shirley Li
It sounds like a lot to take in, but "The Sandman" neatly avoids many genre show pitfalls. While at times its premise and worldbuilding do feel a bit murky, for the most part, it's even less confusing for a layman to get into than other sprawling similar shows such as "Westworld" or "The Witcher."Lauren Sarner

Examples of world-building in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Aldridge, who has long engaged with Black archives and feminist legacies, saw the potential to frame Butler’s world-building alongside California’s history. Okla Jones, Essence, 2 Sep. 2025 Regrettably, diminishing returns leave even that sparky world-building in desperate need of nutrients. Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 21 Aug. 2025 All of this is necessary world-building for the rest of the season’s stories, after the first two episodes were so much about the siblings. Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 19 Aug. 2025 Clunky but effective world-building follows. Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 12 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for world-building

Word History

First Known Use

1983, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of world-building was in 1983

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Cite this Entry

“World-building.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/world-building. Accessed 11 Sep. 2025.

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