DictionaryAI

universe

noun
YOO-nuh-vurs/ˈjuːnəˌvɝs/UKYOO-ni-vurs/ˈjuːnɪˌvɜːs/

Pluraluniverses

7 meanings of universe

Practice

  1. 1
    all that existsnouncountable
    Everything that exists, including all space, time, stars, planets, and energy.

    Like one giant home that holds every star, planet, and person there is.

    Scientists believe the universe began billions of years ago.

    Light from faraway stars travels across the universe for billions of years before reaching us.

    UsageSay the universe, with the.

    Similarcosmos, creation

    Note
  2. 2
    fictional worldnouncountable
    The made-up world where a story or series of stories happens, sometimes shared by many books, films, or games.

    The Star Wars universe has many planets we never see in the movies.

    She invented a whole universe for her comic, with its own history and rules.

    UsageSay the Star Wars universe.

    Similarworld, setting

  3. 3
    cosmos (of many)nouncountable
    One complete world of space, time, and stars, which may be only one of many.

    Like one bubble in a bathtub full of bubbles.

    Some scientists think our universe might be just one among many.

    In another universe, history might have happened in a totally different way.

    UsageSay a parallel universe.

    Note
  4. 4
    whole rangenouncountable
    All the things, people, or choices being considered in a discussion or study, such as everyone a survey could include.

    Our survey's universe is every adult who lives in this town.

    Our universe of dinner choices is whatever is left in the fridge.

    UsageSay a universe of choices.

    Similarpool, field, population, set

    Note
  5. 5
    social worldnouncountable
    Everything that makes up a person's life or way of seeing things.

    After the baby arrived, her whole universe changed.

    For those first lonely weeks, the small town was his entire universe.

    UsageSay my whole universe.

    Similarworld

    Note
  6. 6
    god as allnoun
    A god that is the same as everything that exists.

    She thanked the universe for bringing them together.

    He prays to the universe instead of to a god with a name.

    UsageSay thank the universe.

    Note

Less common meaning

  1. 7
    nounarchaic
    The whole Earth, with all its lands and seas.
    Note

Practice

Can you tell the meanings of universe apart? Answer 3 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.

Origin

From Latin "universum," meaning "all things as a whole." It comes from words meaning "one" and "turned," so "turned into one."

Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 3 facts