What is word? How to use in English

Definition & pronunciation of word

wordnoun

từ

/wəːd/

Definition & pronunciation of <b>word</b>

Where does the word word come from?

The origin of the word "word" is from Old English and Germanic roots. The modern English word "word" is derived from the Old English word "word", which is also the source of the German word "Wort". This Old English word is thought to have come from the Proto-Germanic word "*wurda-", which was also the source of the Gothic word "waurd". The Proto-Germanic word is believed to have been derived from the Proto-Indo-European root "*wer-", which meant "to speak" or "to say". The Old English word "word" initially meant "spoken thought" or "utterance", and its meaning gradually broadened to include written language as well. Throughout its history, the word "word" has retained its core meaning, but its connotations and uses have evolved to encompass a wide range of meanings and contexts in modern English.

Vocabulary summary word

typenoun

meaningfrom

exampleto word an idea

meaningwords, words

examplebig words: boastful words, bragging words

examplea man of few words

examplein other words

meaningmessage

exampleto leave word that

exampleword came that

typetransitive verb

meaningspeak, say, express, describe

exampleto word an idea

Example of vocabulary wordunit of language

meaning

a single unit of language that means something and can be spoken or written

  • Do not write more than 200 words.
  • Do you know the words to this song?
  • What's the Spanish word for ‘table’?
  • He was a true friend in all senses of the word.
  • Tell me what happened in your own words.

Example of vocabulary wordsomething you say

meaning

a thing that you say; a remark or statement

  • Have a word with Pat and see what she thinks.
  • Could I have a quick word with you (= speak to you quickly)?
  • A word of warning: read the instructions very carefully.
  • words of love/encouragement
  • She left without a word (= without saying anything).

Example of vocabulary wordpromise

meaning

a promise or guarantee that you will do something or that something will happen or is true

  • I give you my word that this won't happen again.

Example of vocabulary wordinformation/news

meaning

a piece of information or news

Example of vocabulary wordBible

meaning

the Bible and its teachings

Synonyms and related words for word

Idioms of vocabulary word

actions speak louder than words
(saying)what a person actually does means more than what they say they will do
    bandy words (with somebody)
    (old-fashioned)to argue with somebody or speak rudely to them
      be a dirty word
      to be a subject or an idea that people think is bad or morally wrong
      • Profit is not a dirty word around here.
      • Work is a dirty word to Frank.
      be lost for words
      to be so surprised, confused, etc. that you do not know what to say
        beyond words
        in a way that cannot be expressed in words
        • We were bored beyond words.
        by word of mouth
        because people tell each other and not because they read about it
        • The news spread by word of mouth.
        • The restaurant does not advertise, but relies on word of mouth for custom.
        eat your words
        to admit that what you said was wrong
        • When he told her she would fail, she swore she would make him eat his words.
        famous last words
        (saying)people sometimes say Famous last words! when they think somebody is being too confident about something that is going to happen
        • ‘Everything's under control.’ ‘Famous last words!’
        (right) from the word go
        (informal)from the very beginning
          (not) get a word in (edgeways)
          (not) to be able to say anything because somebody else is speaking too much
          • When Mary starts talking, no one else can get a word in edgeways.
          hang on somebody’s words/on somebody’s every word
          to listen with great attention to somebody you admire
          • The journalists hung on his every word as he spoke of his ordeal.
          have a word in somebody’s ear
          (British English)to speak to somebody privately about something
          • Can I have a word in your ear about tomorrow's presentation?
          have/exchange words (with somebody) (about something)
          (especially British English)to have an argument with somebody
          • We've had words.
          • Words were exchanged.
          in other words
          used to introduce an explanation of something
          • They asked him to leave—in other words he was fired.
          • They're letting me go—in other words, I've been sacked.
          (not) in so/as many words
          (not) in exactly the same words as somebody says were used
          • ‘Did she say she was sorry?’ ‘Not in so many words.’
          • He didn't approve of the plan and said so in as many words.
          • They told me in so many words that I was no longer needed.
          in a word
          (informal)used for giving a very short, usually negative, answer or comment
          • ‘Would you like to help us?’ ‘In a word, no.’
          in words of one syllable
          using very simple language
          • Could you say that again in words of one syllable?
          the last/final word (on something)
          the last comment or decision about something
          • He always has to have the last word in any argument.
          • I’m willing to wait one more week, and that’s my final word on the subject.
          • The Chairman always has the last word on financial decisions.
          the last word (in something)
          the most recent, fashionable, advanced, etc. thing
          • These apartments are the last word in luxury.
          mum’s the word!
          (informal)used to tell somebody to say nothing about something and keep it secret
            not have a good word to say for somebody/something
            (informal)to never say anything good about somebody/something
            • Nobody had a good word to say about him.
            not mince (your) words
            to say something in a direct way even though it might offend other people
            • They were severely criticized by the chairman, who was not a man to mince his words.
            • He doesn't mince his words when he talks about his ex-boss.
            the operative word
            used to emphasize that a particular word or phrase is the most important one in a sentence
            • I was in love with her—‘was’ being the operative word.
            • He seemed nice. But ‘seemed’ was the operative word.
            a play on words
            the humorous use of a word or phrase that can have two different meanings
              the printed word/page
              what is published in books, newspapers, etc.
              • the power of the printed word
              put in a (good) word for somebody
              to praise somebody to somebody else in order to help them get a job, etc.
              • If you run into the boss, put in a good word for me!
              put words into somebody’s mouth
              to suggest that somebody has said something when in fact they have not
              • He felt after the interview that the police officers had been trying to put words into his mouth.
              say/give the word
              to give an order; to make a request
              • Just say the word, and I'll go.
              take somebody at their word
              to believe exactly what somebody says or promises
              • He said I could stay at his house any time, so I took him at his word.
              take the words right out of somebody’s mouth
              to say what somebody else was going to say
              • I was about to say we should cancel the trip, but she took the words right out of my mouth.
              too funny, silly, ridiculous, etc. for words
              extremely funny, silly, ridiculous, etc.
                a war of words
                a bitter argument over a period of time between two or more people or groups
                • the political war of words over tax
                weigh your words
                to choose your words carefully so that you say exactly what you mean
                • He spoke slowly, weighing his words.
                (upon) my word
                (old-fashioned)used to show that you are surprised about something
                  word for word
                  in exactly the same words or (when translated) words with exactly the same meaning
                  • She repeated their conversation word for word to me.
                  • a word-for-word translation
                  • He repeated word for word what the boy had said to him.
                  somebody’s word is their bond
                  somebody’s promise can be relied on completely
                    words to that effect
                    used to show that you are giving the general meaning of what somebody has said rather than the exact words
                    • He told me to leave—or words to that effect.
                    the written word
                    language expressed in writing rather than in speech
                    • the permanence of the written word

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