American English
/ˈwɚld̚.li/
2 syllables · Stress the first syllable.
Having a lot of experience of people and life, so you are not easily surprised or fooled.
Practice out loudHaving a lot of experience of people and life, so you are not easily surprised or fooled.
She is young but very worldly.
His worldly experience helped him handle the difficult meeting.
In this sense, worldly is usually positive or neutral. It does not mean mainly interested in money.
worldly experience · worldly knowledge · worldly wisdom
subject + be + worldly
worldly + noun
Connected with ordinary human life and society, rather than with religion or spiritual life.
The monks gave up worldly concerns.
She found it hard to balance spiritual life with worldly duties.
worldly concerns · worldly affairs · worldly matters
worldly + noun
Mainly interested in money, possessions, pleasure, or social status rather than spiritual values.
He gave away his worldly possessions.
The novel criticizes her worldly ambitions.
This meaning is often critical, especially in religious writing.
worldly possessions · worldly pleasures · worldly ambitions · worldly success
worldly + noun
Experienced and able to understand how people and life work.
She is young but worldly-wise.