Collocations for world - noun
1. the earth/its people
ADJ.
known
a medieval map of the known world
a medieval map of the known world
whole
VERB + WORLD
create, make
They believe that God created the world.
They believe that God created the world.
destroy
One of these days, humankind will destroy the world.
One of these days, humankind will destroy the world.
take over
Fast food outlets seem to be taking over the world.
Fast food outlets seem to be taking over the world.
tour, travel | see
As a young man, he wanted to see the world before he settled down.
As a young man, he wanted to see the world before he settled down.
lead
Sweden leads the world in safety legislation.
Sweden leads the world in safety legislation.
WORLD + NOUN
leader | economy | recession, slump | market | trade | price
World oil prices continue to rise.
World oil prices continue to rise.
domination
A handful of Internet companies are battling for world domination.
A handful of Internet companies are battling for world domination.
affairs, events | attention, opinion
The bombing alienated world opinion.
The bombing alienated world opinion.
war | champion
He was easily beaten by the reigning world champion.
He was easily beaten by the reigning world champion.
championships, cup, title | class
The team is world class.
The team is world class.
beaters
The Portuguese team looked like world beaters in last night''s game.
The Portuguese team looked like world beaters in last night''s game.
record
She shattered the world record for the 200 metres.
She shattered the world record for the 200 metres.
rankings
He has never before featured in the top ten world rankings.
He has never before featured in the top ten world rankings.
religion
the major world religions
the major world religions
music
(= music that includes influences from different parts of the world)
(= music that includes influences from different parts of the world)
tour
The band are about to embark on a six-month world tour.
The band are about to embark on a six-month world tour.
PREP.
across the ~
Astronomers across the world will be watching the night sky.
Astronomers across the world will be watching the night sky.
all around/over/round the ~
The ceremony was watched live by millions around the world.
The ceremony was watched live by millions around the world.
in the ~
He felt he was the luckiest man in the whole world.
He felt he was the luckiest man in the whole world.
throughout the ~
People throughout the world will be watching the big match on television.
People throughout the world will be watching the big match on television.
PHRASES
the end of the world
(figurative) It won''t be the end of the world if you don''t get the job.
(figurative) It won''t be the end of the world if you don''t get the job.
on a world scale
Communist parties were formed on a world scale after the Russian Revolution.
Communist parties were formed on a world scale after the Russian Revolution.
on the world stage
The country became an important player on the world stage.
The country became an important player on the world stage.
a part of the world
It''s an interesting part of the world.
It''s an interesting part of the world.
the world over
Scientists the world over have been waiting for this breakthrough.
Scientists the world over have been waiting for this breakthrough.
2. part of the earth
ADJ.
Arab, English-speaking, Western, etc.
Heads of state from all over the Arab world gathered for the conference.
Heads of state from all over the Arab world gathered for the conference.
developed, First, industrialized, rich
First World consumers will have to eat less meat.
First World consumers will have to eat less meat.
developing, Third, underdeveloped | New, Old
Machismo is a New World phenomenon with roots in Old World cultures.
Machismo is a New World phenomenon with roots in Old World cultures.
PREP.
in the … ~
In the Western world, there is a different attitude to marriage.
In the Western world, there is a different attitude to marriage.
3. life/society
ADJ.
ever-changing | cruel, dog-eat-dog, hard, tough | crazy, mad, topsy-turvy | ancient, medieval, Roman, etc. | contemporary, modern, today''s | brave new
the architects'' vision of a brave new world of pristine concrete
the architects'' vision of a brave new world of pristine concrete
vanishing
These tribesmen are proud survivors of a vanishing world.
These tribesmen are proud survivors of a vanishing world.
outside, real
Throughout his time in prison he had no contact with the outside world. | In the real world things don''t always happen like they do in books.
Throughout his time in prison he had no contact with the outside world. | In the real world things don''t always happen like they do in books.
dream, fantasy, imaginary, inner, private
She enjoys creating imaginary worlds for children. | She lives in her own inner world.
She enjoys creating imaginary worlds for children. | She lives in her own inner world.
material, physical | simulated, virtual | spiritual | spirit
Mediums claim to receive messages from the spirit world.
Mediums claim to receive messages from the spirit world.
social | animal, insect, natural, plant
I like living in the country because I''m interested in the natural world.
I like living in the country because I''m interested in the natural world.
academic, art, business, fashion, industrial, literary, medical, sports | different
We come from different worlds.
We come from different worlds.
sb''s own (little)
She lives in her own little world.
She lives in her own little world.
whole (wide), wider
She told him he was her only friend in the whole wide world. | The wider world learned of his illness months after he told his family.
She told him he was her only friend in the whole wide world. | The wider world learned of his illness months after he told his family.
small
I''m sure we''ll meet again. It''s a very small world in this profession.
I''m sure we''ll meet again. It''s a very small world in this profession.
VERB + WORLD
change
Young people always think they are going to change the world.
Young people always think they are going to change the world.
have, inhabit, live in
Children often have their own private world.
Children often have their own private world.
look at, perceive, see, view
different ways of looking at the world
different ways of looking at the world
come into, enter, escape into
We come into the world with nothing. | He entered the world of politics in 1997. | Showbusiness gave him the chance to escape into another world.
We come into the world with nothing. | He entered the world of politics in 1997. | Showbusiness gave him the chance to escape into another world.
bring sb into
She had brought six children into the world.
She had brought six children into the world.
escape from, shut yourself away from, shut out
He closed his eyes and tried to shut out the world.
He closed his eyes and tried to shut out the world.
face
For the first time since the death of her parents, she felt able to face the world.
For the first time since the death of her parents, she felt able to face the world.
take on
He was so happy to leave school, he felt ready to take on the world.
He was so happy to leave school, he felt ready to take on the world.
tell
He wanted to tell the world how happy he was.
He wanted to tell the world how happy he was.
prove to, show
She was determined to show the world that she was no loser.
She was determined to show the world that she was no loser.
shake, shock, stun
The news of the assassination shook the world.
The news of the assassination shook the world.
WORLD + VERB
fall apart
His world fell apart when his wife died.
His world fell apart when his wife died.
revolve around sb/sth
She thinks the world revolves around her and her schedule.
She thinks the world revolves around her and her schedule.
owe sb sth
He seems to think that the world owes him a living.
He seems to think that the world owes him a living.
WORLD + NOUN
knowledge | view
Teachers influence the world view of their young students.
Teachers influence the world view of their young students.
PREP.
in the … ~
He''s well known in the fashion world.
He''s well known in the fashion world.
~ about/around
At this age, babies are starting to take an interest in the world around them.
At this age, babies are starting to take an interest in the world around them.
~ of
In the world of high finance, there is little room for sentiment.
In the world of high finance, there is little room for sentiment.
PHRASES
experience/knowledge/perception of the world, the eyes of the world
The eyes of the world are on the president.
The eyes of the world are on the president.
in an ideal/a perfect world
In an ideal world, I''d like to work just three days a week.
In an ideal world, I''d like to work just three days a week.
in a world of your own
I tapped on the window to get her attention but she was in a world of her own.
I tapped on the window to get her attention but she was in a world of her own.
the rest of the world
He just wanted to shut himself away from the rest of the world.
He just wanted to shut himself away from the rest of the world.
watch the world go by
He likes to sit outside his front door and watch the world go by.
He likes to sit outside his front door and watch the world go by.
the ways of the world
He''s too young to understand the ways of the world.
He''s too young to understand the ways of the world.
worlds apart
Although they are twins, they are worlds apart in their attitude to life.
Although they are twins, they are worlds apart in their attitude to life.