in the world

phrase

: among innumerable possibilities : ever
—used as an intensive
what in the world is it

Examples of in the world in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Michael Dell is the sixth-richest man in the world with a net worth of about $232 billion. — Sydney Lake, Fortune, 17 Oct. 2026 Recently, Chatten, who writes most of the group’s lyrics, told the Times a story about going to see a movie with his headphones in and attempting to actualize an ambient cognitive dissonance, a feeling of being in the world but not quite of it. — Amanda Petrusich, New Yorker, 16 Oct. 2026 They are both lost in the world, so their relationship is really at the core of the show. — Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 16 Oct. 2026 This far exceeds the carbon stored in the world’s forest biomass, despite forests covering a much larger area. — Literary Hub, 16 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for in the world

Word History

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of in the world was before the 12th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“In the world.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/in%20the%20world. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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