1 (usually the world) the earth, together with all of its countries and peoples:he was doing his bit to save the worldit’s a wonderful world
(the world) all of the people and societies on the earth:the whole world hates a Monday
[as modifier] denoting one of the most important people or things of their class:a world superstar
(one's world) one’s life and activities:he felt his whole world had collapsed
2a particular region or group of countries:the English-speaking world
a particular period of history:the ancient world
a particular group of living things:the animal world
all that relates to a particular sphere of activity:they were a legend in the world of British theatrethe news shocked the football world
3 (the world) human and social interaction:he has almost completely withdrawn from the world
secular or material matters as opposed to spiritual ones:parents are not viewed as the primary educators of their own children, either in the world or in the Church
a stage of human life, either mortal or after death:in this world and the next
4another planet like the earth:the possibility of life on other worlds
be not long for this world
have only a short time to live:these people either radiate incredible vitality or else complain that they’re not long for this world
the best of both (or all possible) worlds
the benefits of widely differing situations, enjoyed at the same time:I had the best of both worlds, since I worked as an ordinary member of the crew but fed with the officers
bring someone into the world
give birth to or assist at the birth of someone.
come into the world
be born.
come up (or go down) in the world
rise (or drop) in status or wealth:he’s come up in the world since he went to work for thema street that had once been well heeled but had gone down in the world
in a world of one's own
concerned with one’s own thoughts and not aware of what is happening around one:he is in a world of his own and is frequently carried away by his own flights of fancy
in the world
used to express astonishment or disbelief in questions:why in the world did you not reveal yourself sooner?
look for all the world like
look precisely like (used for emphasis):fossil imprints that look for all the world like motorcycle tracks
man (or woman) of the world
a person who is experienced in the ways of sophisticated society.
not do something for the world
not do something whatever the inducement:I wouldn’t miss it for the world
out of this world
informal extremely enjoyable or impressive:a herb and lemon dressing that’s out of this world
see the world
travel widely and gain wide experience.
think the world of
have a very high regard for:I thought the world of my father
the world and his wife
British everybody:now all the world and his wife seems to have heard of them
the world, the flesh, and the devil
all forms of temptation to sin:Rossetti struggled with these words in her desire to overcome the world, the flesh, and the devil
a (or the) world of
a very great deal of:there’s a world of difference between being alone and being lonelya bit of country air will do her the world of good
(all) the world over
everywhere on the earth:laughter is the same language the world over
worlds apart
very different or distant:our daughter’s school is worlds apart from school as I knew it in the 1960s
