world

noun

ˈwər(-ə)ld How to pronounce world (audio)
Definition of worldnext
1
as in humanity
human beings in general the whole world is waiting to see how this crisis will play out

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2
as in globe
the celestial body on which we live worried about the effects of pollution on the world

Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in universe
the whole body of things observed or assumed theories about the origin of the world

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in galaxy
a huge physical or conceptual distance they have ideas for the new project that are a world away from his own

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of world Lovina Hershberger Zook left the Amish behind, and joined the online world as a social media influencer. — Faith Salie, CBS News, 16 Aug. 2026 That’s where the baseball world learned of his unique celebration after getting strikeouts, and the big leagues have seen it now over his first five appearances for New York. — Scott Thompson Outkick, FOXNews.com, 16 Aug. 2026 In Paris, 175 world and 218 Paralympic records were broken across 22 sports. — Los Angeles Times, 16 Aug. 2026 Kahan is in the midst of his The Great Divide world tour, which heads to Petco Park in San Diego on Monday. — Althea Legaspi, Rolling Stone, 16 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for world
Recent Examples of Synonyms for world
  1. humanity
  2. globe
  3. universe
  4. galaxy
  5. people
  6. planet
  7. nature
  8. way
Noun
  • Background Dragonfly won’t be humanity’s first visitor to Titan.
    — Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2026
  • As the Green Lantern, Hal has the power to create material items through his ring, and acts as an intergalactic space officer protecting humanity from extraterrestrial threats.
    — Matt Minton, Variety, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of humanity
Noun
  • California Modern elements are found throughout, such as a hanging globe light and a red, rotary dial telephone on a kitchen wall.
    — David Caraccio, Sacbee.com, 15 Aug. 2026
  • As long as the predominant globe-spanning Navy kept the seas free for everyone, there was no reason to be affiliated with any state.
    — Craig Hooper, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of globe
Noun
  • Move up the org chart and the numbers shift into another universe entirely.
    — Scott White, Forbes.com, 13 Aug. 2026
  • The prevalence of LRDs in the early universe would align with the emergence of supermassive black holes, each weighing millions to billions of suns apiece, which astronomers spy at the hearts of large galaxies.
    — Lee Billings, Scientific American, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of universe
Noun
  • The prevalence of LRDs in the early universe would align with the emergence of supermassive black holes, each weighing millions to billions of suns apiece, which astronomers spy at the hearts of large galaxies.
    — Lee Billings, Scientific American, 12 Aug. 2026
  • Hawks leads Zero Company, an unconventional outfit of professionals for hire from across the galaxy, which includes a Clone Trooper, a Mandalorian, a Jedi Padawan and more.
    — Jennifer Maas, Variety, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of galaxy
Noun
  • Another 13 people were wounded on downtown Sacramento’s K Street and 10th Street, in what became the deadliest mass shooting in the city’s history.
    — Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 19 June 2026
  • Organizers say more than 125,000 people are expected throughout the event, bringing in millions of dollars for the local economy.
    — Ryan Hughes, CBS News, 19 June 2026
Definition of people
Noun
  • Binface, who was first to declare and already a running joke in British elections, drew the most attention because of his satirical spin on politics and persona as a space alien from the planet Sigma IX.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 14 Aug. 2026
  • While significantly dimmer than Jupiter, modest telescopes easily reveal its brilliant rings, and the belts and zones within the planet’s atmosphere.
    — Damian Peach, Space.com, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of planet
Noun
  • His clubhouse presence and offensive output have carried the Nats thus far, and if the decision goes awry, both could be disrupted by the public nature of the in-season move.
    — Spencer Nusbaum, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2026
  • The unusual nature of the case has attracted national attention and debate.
    — AJ Willingham, AJC.com, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of nature
Noun
  • Carrick using Mbeumo as a centre-forward is not new — but the way United’s forward line is gelling around him is.
    — Cerys Jones, New York Times, 13 Aug. 2026
  • By doing it this way, the kids had to put some thought into which items meant the most to them, and there were no complaints afterward.
    — R. Eric Thomas, Mercury News, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of way

Phrases Containing world

Browse Nearby Words

workwomen
world
world-beater
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“World.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/world. Accessed 19 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on world

Nglish: Translation of world for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of balmy

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Do you 'say your piece' or 'say your peace'?

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

Is “GIF” Pronounced “Jiff” or “Giff”?

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
image of a green cube out of place in a lineup of red spheres
Odd Word Out: Synonyms Vol. 2 Quiz Figure out which word isn't like the others.
See All