internet
IHN-tuh-neht
Internet (noun) means the worldwide network of connected computers that people use to browse websites, send messages, and share information. Example: “She looked up the recipe on the internet.”
noun
1
The worldwide network of connected computers that people use to browse websites, send messages, and share information.
"She looked up the recipe on the internet."
"Slow internet made it hard to stream the video."
"My grandad learned to video call his friends over the internet last winter."
How to use internet
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe global system connecting computers and devices that lets us access websites, email, and online services.
UK vs US
Usage has shifted from capitalized "the Internet" to lowercase "the internet," which is now standard in most style guides.
Common pairings
on the internet
internet access
internet connection
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Word forms
- Plural
- internets
- Third person singular
- internets
- Past tense
- internetted
Fill the gap
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She looked up the recipe on the _____.
Etymology
A shortened, generalized form of "Internet," originally referring to a network connecting separate networks together.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for internet
See all rhymes for internet →Frequently asked questions
What does “internet” mean?
The word “internet” means the worldwide network of connected computers that people use to browse websites, send messages, and share information. In plain terms, the global system connecting computers and devices that lets us access websites, email, and online services.
How do you pronounce “internet”?
“Internet” is pronounced IHN-tuh-neht (/ˈɪn.(t)əɹˌnɛt/ in IPA).
How do you use “internet” in a sentence?
Here is “internet” used in a sentence: “She looked up the recipe on the internet.”
What part of speech is “internet”?
“Internet” is a name.
Is “internet” a common word?
“Internet” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
What is the difference between the internet and the World Wide Web?
The internet is the vast physical network of connected computers and cables that links devices worldwide. The World Wide Web is one service running on top of it: the system of websites and pages you view in a browser. Email, apps, and streaming also use the internet, so the web is only part of it.
Who invented the internet?
The internet had no single inventor. It grew from ARPANET, a 1960s United States research network, with Vint Cerf and Bob Kahn developing the core communication rules, called TCP/IP, in the 1970s. Later, Tim Berners-Lee created the World Wide Web in 1989, which made the internet easy for ordinary people to use.
Is the internet the same as Wi-Fi?
No. The internet is the global network of information and services. Wi-Fi is simply one wireless way for your device to connect to it, over short distances without cables. You can have Wi-Fi with no internet, for example when the connection is down, so the two are related but not the same thing.
How does the internet work?
The internet works by breaking information into small packets and sending them between computers using shared rules called protocols. Each device has an address, and routers pass packets along the fastest available path until they reassemble at their destination. This lets a message or web page travel across the world in moments.
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