universe

All of space and everything in it, including stars, planets, and galaxies.

• The universe contains billions of stars.
• Scientists study how the universe began.
• Is there life elsewhere in the universe?

Similar words: cosmos

Common phrases: the universe, observable universe, expanding universe, physical universe

The imaginary world or worlds where a story and its characters exist.

• The story takes place in a magical universe.
• Both films belong to the same fictional universe.
• She created a universe filled with strange creatures.

Similar words: world, story world

Common phrases: fictional universe, fantasy universe, shared universe

A whole area of life, activity, or experience considered as a world of its own.

• Music is the center of her universe.
• The exhibition opens up an unfamiliar artistic universe.
• Their social universes rarely overlap.

Similar words: world, sphere, realm

Common phrases: musical universe, cultural universe, someone’s universe, personal universe

The complete collection of things or possibilities being considered.

• We narrowed the universe of possible choices.
• The survey covers the entire universe of eligible households.
• Only a few companies in this investment universe met our requirements.

How to use it: universe of something (The database covers a vast universe of possible investments.)

Similar words: totality, complete set

Common phrases: universe of possibilities, universe of choices, investment universe