Meaning & use
outside world
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Meanings
nounsingular
People, places, and events beyond a particular group, place, or situation.
Grammar: Usually preceded by 'the'; takes a singular verb: 'The outside world is unaware.'
Patterns
- the outside world
- from the outside world
- to the outside world
The remote village had little contact with the outside world.
The company kept its new project hidden from the outside world.
After years in prison, he struggled to adjust to the outside world.
nounsingular
The realm of ordinary life and society, as opposed to a closed or specialized environment.
Grammar: Often used in contrast to a monastery, prison, military base, or similar closed community.
Patterns
- return to the outside world
- rejoin the outside world
Monks rarely leave the monastery to enter the outside world.
After retirement, she found it hard to rejoin the outside world.
Common combinations
- contact with the outside world
- The islanders had no contact with the outside world for centuries.
- the outside world knows
- The outside world knows very little about their customs.
- shut off from the outside world
- The lab was shut off from the outside world for security.
Synonyms and how they differ
- the wider world
- Similar but often suggests a broader perspective rather than a physical or social boundary.
- the real world
- Emphasizes practical, everyday life as opposed to an idealized or sheltered one; not always interchangeable.
Commonly confused: outside world or outside?
outside world vs outside
Outside is a preposition or adverb meaning not inside; the outside world is a noun phrase for everything beyond a particular place or group.
Practice
Choose the correct sentence.
Choose one answer.
'The outside world' is a singular noun phrase and takes a singular verb 'is'. Option A uses a plural verb; option C omits 'the'; option D uses 'an', which is not used here.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “outside world”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.