noun
plural worlds
a the world :the earth and all the people and things on it
[count] :a part of the world and the people and things that exist there
[count] :human society
The real world is the world where everyone lives, works, and deals with everyday problems.
the world :the people in the world
The outside world refers to the people who live outside of a particular place or who do not belong to a particular group.
[count] a particular kind of interest, activity, or social situation, or the people who are involved in it
a group of things of a particular type
a particular environment
[count] a particular part of human life and experience
the life and experiences of a particular person
[count] :a planet where there is life :a planet that is like Earth
[singular] informal :a great amount of something
the world :all that is important :everything
all the time in the world
a great deal of time to do something
a world away from
completely different from (something)
come down in the world
to become less wealthy, successful, etc.
come into the world
formal + literary :to be born
dead to the world
for all the world
in every way :exactly
for the world
informal :for any reason - used to make a statement more forceful
in the world
informal :among many possibilities - used to make a question or statement more forceful
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.
(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
move up in the world
to become more wealthy, successful, etc.
not long for this world
about to die soon
not the end of the world
on top of the world
out of this world
informal :very good :excellent
promise (someone) the world
set the world on fire
also chiefly Brit set the world alight
informal :to be very successful and attract a lot of attention
the best of all (possible) worlds
the best possible situation
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.
the (whole) world over
everywhere in the world
the world is your 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.
world revolves around
If you think the world revolves around you, you think that your own life, problems, etc., are more important than other people's.
If your world revolves around (someone or something), that person or thing is extremely important in your life.
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.
adjective
always used before a noun
of or relating to the whole world
extending or found throughout the world :worldwide
involving many parts of the world or the whole world
known or famous throughout the world
US