What does "internet" mean?
Internet access or connection; internet connectivity.
Internet
/ˈɪntəˌnɛt/ name, noun, verb, slang
name, noun, verb, slang ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: Internet access or connection; internet connectivity.
- Grammar: internet is listed as name, noun, verb, slang.
- Nearest alternatives: cyberspace, digital medium, digital network, global network.
- Useful contrasts: brick and mortar, data network, in person learning.
- Usage evidence: It is easier to hit on people on the Internet than in the street.
How to use "internet"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "internet" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "internet" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "internet" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "internet" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "internet" is acting as name, noun, verb, slang in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "cyberspace" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "internet", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 Internet access or connection; internet connectivity. uncountable
"Do you have internet at your place? My internet is down and I want to check my email."
- 2 a computer network consisting of a worldwide network of computer networks that use the TCP/IP network protocols to facilitate data transmission and exchange wordnet
- 3 Any set of computer networks that communicate using the Internet Protocol; an intranet. countable
- 4 A fictitious unit of scoring awarded for making outstanding posts on the internet. Internet, countable, humorous, uncountable
"You did a nice job there Patty … you came off as intelligent, well-spoken, and concerned about the well being of the victims, in stark contrast to the self-serving, uncaring, unconcerned attitude of the Narconon spokeswoman. 100 internets for you!"
Verb
- 1 To use the internet; specifically, to search for information by using the internet. Internet, informal, intransitive
"Having no idea what that means, I am internetting like mad."
- 2 To entwine or link (several things) together, so as to form a network; to interconnect, to network. ambitransitive, archaic, rare
"A railroad performs in a single day as much work as a ship in a whole year. This is done, too, in the midst of society, internetted among the cities, the farms, the dwellings of the people."
- 3 To connect (a computer, an electronic device, etc.) into a computer network (in particular, the Internet). ambitransitive, specifically
"We are continuing our program of internetting our radar system with that of the Federal Aviation Agency."
Proper Noun
- 1 Alternative letter-case form of Internet (“the specific internet consisting of a global network of computers that communicate using Internet Protocol (IP) and that use Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) to identify the best paths to route those communications”). alt-of
"The dirty secret of the internet is that all this distraction and interruption is immensely profitable. Web companies like to boast about "creating compelling content", or offering services that let you "stay up to date with what your friends are doing", "share the things you love with the world" and so on."
- 2 The global, decentralized network of computers which communicate with one another using the Internet protocol suite, which now forms a vital part of global communication, content sharing, and information exchange systems.
"2008, Lou Schuler, "Foreword", in Nate Green, Built for Show, page xi [I]f you think the Internet existed in 1970, I can only guess that the education system has left at least one child behind."
- 3 Alternative letter-case form of Internet (“global community of individuals communicating via the Internet”). alt-of
"As soon as the trailer was released, the internet went nuts."
- 4 The global community of individuals communicating via the Internet. broadly, informal
"We know how much the Internet has changed America. And we are already an open society. Imagine how much it could change China. Now, there is no question – China has been trying to crack down on the Internet. Good luck. That's sort of like trying to nail Jell-O to the wall."
Synonyms
All synonymsAntonyms
Example
"It is easier to hit on people on the Internet than in the street."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "internet"?
Common synonyms include: cyberspace, digital medium, digital network, global network, information medium, information network.
How do you use "internet" in a sentence?
It is easier to hit on people on the Internet than in the street.
How do you pronounce "internet"?
Pronounced /ˈɪntəˌnɛt/.
Etymology
Etymology 1
The noun is a variant of Internet. The verb is derived from the noun.
Etymology 2
From inter- (prefix meaning ‘amid, among; between’) + net (“to form a netting or network”).
Etymology 3
Etymology tree ▲ Proto-Indo-European *h₁en- Proto-Indo-European *h₁en- Proto-Indo-European *h₁én Proto-Indo-European *h₁entér Proto-Italic *ənter Latin inter Latin inter-bor. English inter- Proto-Indo-European *neHd- Proto-Indo-European *-yós Proto-Germanic *natją Proto-West Germanic *nati Old English nett Middle English net English net Proto-Indo-European *werǵ- Proto-Indo-European *-om Proto-Indo-European *wérǵom Proto-Germanic *werką Proto-West Germanic *werk Old English weorc Middle English werk English work English network English internetwork English Internet Coined by the U.S. Defense Department in 1986. Shortening of internetwork.