worldwide

worldwide — adjective

1. Found, used, or taking place in every major region of the planet.

1.adjectiveB2
Definition

Found, used, or taking place in every major region of the planet.

Example

Joon's new smartphone app became a worldwide success within months.

worldwide + success: collocation for global popularity

There is a worldwide shortage of computer chips after the factory fire.

worldwide + shortage: describing a problem that affects everywhere

Common collocations
  • worldwide success
  • worldwide shortage
  • worldwide recognition
  • worldwide team
  • worldwide network
  • worldwide audience
Synonyms
  • global

    Most common synonym; interchangeable in most contexts but slightly more formal.

  • international

    Emphasises relations or involvement between different countries rather than geographic coverage.

  • universal

    Broader meaning — applies to all people or cases without exception, not limited to geography.

Antonyms
  • local

    Limited to one particular place or area.

  • regional

    Confined to a specific region rather than the entire planet.

Usage Note

Typically placed before a noun (attributive position). It describes the geographic distribution, presence, or reach of something rather than its effect or consequence.

Common Mistakes

The whole worldwide uses the internet now.
People worldwide use the internet now.
Worldwide is an adjective or adverb, not a noun; it cannot be the subject of a sentence.
He broke the worldwide record for running.
He broke the world record for running.
A sports achievement is a world record, not a worldwide record.

2. Having an influence or consequence that extends to every country and continent.

2.adjectiveB2
Definition

Having an influence or consequence that extends to every country and continent.

Example

The fashion show had a worldwide impact on how people dress for work.

have a worldwide impact: common collocation for describing influence

New safety rules led to a worldwide change in how airlines check luggage.

worldwide + change: describing a shift that affects every location

Common collocations
  • worldwide impact
  • worldwide effect
  • worldwide change
  • worldwide rise
  • worldwide drop
  • worldwide campaign
Synonyms
  • global

    Interchangeable in most contexts about reach or influence.

  • far-reaching

    Emphasises that the effects spread very widely; slightly more informal.

  • sweeping

    Suggests a broad, often sudden change that affects many areas at once.

Antonyms
  • localised

    Restricted to a small area rather than affecting everywhere.

  • limited

    Constrained in scope or reach.

Usage Note

Distinguish from Sense 1 (GLOBAL SCOPE): this sense focuses on the outcome or consequence of something, not merely where it exists. It is commonly used with nouns such as effect, impact, change, rise, drop.

Common Mistakes

The company has a worldwide impact chain.
The company has a worldwide supply chain.
Impact chain is not a natural collocation; supply chain is the correct term for production networks.

worldwide — adverb

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

Global is the closest synonym to worldwide and can be used in nearly all the same contexts; the main difference is that global is slightly more formal and can also mean 'comprehensive' (a global view of a problem). International specifically involves relations or activities between different countries, so it fits situations with cross-border cooperation but not phenomena that occur everywhere simultaneously (like a worldwide shortage). Universal is broader still — it means applying to all people or all cases without exception, not just geographically. A product can have worldwide distribution and international marketing, but a human right is described as universal, not worldwide.

global ↗international ↗universal ↗

Common collocations

Adverbs

  • almost worldwide
  • now worldwide
  • truly worldwide
  • nearly worldwide

Phrases

  • around the world
  • across the globe

Etymology

Old EnglishMiddle EnglishEnglish

Worldwide is formed by combining the noun 'world' (from Old English 'woruld', meaning 'human existence' or 'the earth') with the adjective 'wide' (from Old English 'wīd', meaning 'extensive'). The compound first appeared in Middle English as 'world-wide' and became widely used in the 1800s as global travel and trade expanded.