world-building
noun
world-build·ing
ˈwərl(d)-ˈbil-diŋ 
variants
or less commonly world building
or worldbuilding
: the creation of a fictional world (especially within the science fiction and fantasy genres) that is believable and consistent within the context of the story
The game pushes the limits of the PS4 graphically and packs so much mythos and backstory into its world-building that at times it feels more like a novel than a video game.—
Patrick Shanley
Patrick ShanleyIn my opinion, no one does world-building as well as Kate Elliott. It's subtle … but the world, culture, and societies she creates feel solid. If you think about them when you close the book, you can see how they could work; how the economics could work, how the governing could work, how the cultures formed.—Michelle West
Michelle WestIn postapocalyptic stories, world building typically emphasizes the new reality: new vocabulary to learn, new systems of government to understand, new social norms to parse.—Shirley Li
Shirley LiIt sounds like a lot to take in, but "The Sandman" neatly avoids many genre show pitfalls. While at times its premise and worldbuilding do feel a bit murky, for the most part, it's even less confusing for a layman to get into than other sprawling similar shows such as "Westworld" or "The Witcher."—Lauren Sarner
Lauren SarnerExamples of world-building in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The Gathering has inspired decades of epic world-building and creative storytelling.
—Matt Webb Mitovich, TVLine, 6 Feb. 2025
Players who enjoy the game's lore, world-building, and puzzles are afraid that HoYoverse will end up putting less effort into these aspects of the game when there are options to skip them.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 5 Feb. 2025
The avant-garde artist has drawn comparisons to Björk, for her playful world-building, and to Rosalía, for her genre-fusing range—but her extraterrestrial vibe, her rigor as a dancer, and her distinctive blend of R. & B., electronic music, and celestial pop are decidedly singular.
—Puja Patel, The New Yorker, 4 Feb. 2025
The result of their joint artistic labor amounts to idiosyncratic world-building with a retro sheen.
—Carlos Aguilar, Variety, 31 Jan. 2025
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Matt Webb Mitovich, TVLine, 6 Feb. 2025
Players who enjoy the game's lore, world-building, and puzzles are afraid that HoYoverse will end up putting less effort into these aspects of the game when there are options to skip them.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 5 Feb. 2025
The avant-garde artist has drawn comparisons to Björk, for her playful world-building, and to Rosalía, for her genre-fusing range—but her extraterrestrial vibe, her rigor as a dancer, and her distinctive blend of R. & B., electronic music, and celestial pop are decidedly singular.
—Puja Patel, The New Yorker, 4 Feb. 2025
The result of their joint artistic labor amounts to idiosyncratic world-building with a retro sheen.
—Carlos Aguilar, Variety, 31 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for world-building
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Cite this Entry
“World-building.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/world-building. Accessed 14 Feb. 2025.
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