| worst-case |
of or describing the worst possible case, situation, result, or the like. |
| worst-case scenario |
the worst possible set of events that could follow. |
| worsted |
a fine, smooth, firm, compact yarn spun of tightly twisted wool fibers. [3 definitions] |
| wort1 |
a plant, vegetable, root, or herb (usu. used in combination). |
| wort2 |
an infusion of malt that ferments into beer or mash. |
| worth |
good, valuable, or important enough to warrant. [8 definitions] |
| worth it |
successful in compensating for the effort, time, trouble, or expense required. |
| worthless |
without importance, use, or value. [2 definitions] |
| worth one's salt |
deserving of the wages one receives; competent. |
| worthwhile |
valuable or rewarding enough to be worth the expenditure of time and energy. |
| worthy |
having adequate or considerable worth or merit; admirable; commendable. [3 definitions] |
| wot |
a spelling of "what" used to represent the way the word is sometimes informally pronounced, especially when one is surprised, shocked, or being humorous. |
| would |
used as a past form of "will1" after verbs in the past tense that report speech or thoughts. [5 definitions] |
| would-be |
wanting or pretending to be. [2 definitions] |
| would just as soon |
used to indicate a secondary preference if a first option is not available, or a preference that may not be or may not appear to be highly desirable but is still more acceptable than the other option or options that one is given (usu. fol. by an infinitive without "to" but can also be followed by a noun). |
| would like |
used as a tentative form of "want" in order to express a greater degree of politeness than "want" expresses or when the possibility of doing what one wants is not considered likely or certain. |
| wouldn't |
contracted form of "would not." |
| would rather |
used to express a preference for one thing over another (usu. fol. by an infinitive of a verb without "to" or a clause in the subjunctive mood, but can also be followed by a noun). |
| would've |
contracted form of "would have." |
| wound1 |
an injury to living tissue, usu. involving penetration or cutting of the external surface. [4 definitions] |
| wound2 |
past tense and past participle of wind2. |