what in the world

Meanings

interjection

An exclamation of surprise.
"What in the world are you talking about, Roger?" asked my father in amazement.
1875, Catholic World, volume 21, page 201
Synonyms: what on Earth

interjectionAn exclamation of surprise.

Similar

what on Earth

Also see

Indonesian apa-apaan

Norwegian Bokmål hva i all verden?

Swedish vad i hela världen, vad i all världen

Cite this entry

APA

what in the world. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/what%20in%20the%20world

MLA

“what in the world.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/what%20in%20the%20world. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “what in the world,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/what%20in%20the%20world.