precious

American  

[presh-uhs] / ˈprɛʃ əs /

adjective

1. of high price or great value; very valuable or costly.

   precious metals.

2. highly esteemed for some spiritual, nonmaterial, or moral quality.

   precious memories.

3. dear; beloved.

   a precious child.

   Synonyms:

   darling

4. affectedly or excessively delicate, refined, or nice.

   precious manners.

5. flagrant; gross.

   a precious fool.

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noun

1. a dearly beloved person; darling.

adverb

1. extremely; very.

   She wastes precious little time.

precious British  

/ ˈprɛʃəs /

adjective

1. beloved; dear; cherished

2. very costly or valuable

3. held in high esteem, esp in moral or spiritual matters

4. very fastidious or affected, as in speech, manners, etc

5. informal worthless

   you and your precious ideas!

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adverb

1. informal (intensifier)

   there's precious little left

Related Words

See valuable.

Other Word Forms

• nonprecious
  adjective
• nonpreciously
  adverb
• nonpreciousness
  noun
• preciously
  adverb
• preciousness
  noun
• unprecious
  adjective
• unpreciously
  adverb
• unpreciousness
  noun

Etymology

Origin of precious

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English preciose (from Old French precios ), from Latin pretiōsus “costly, valuable,” equivalent to preti(um) “price, value, worth” ( see price) + -ōsus -ous

Explanation

To call something precious is to describe it as highly valued. Think of a gemstone when you call your baby sister precious. Diamonds, emeralds and rubies are all precious stones and gold and silver are precious metals. If it is something valuable and treasured, it can be called precious too. Fresh water is a precious resource especially in desert countries. Many precious books and painting have been destroyed through fire and war. On a more personal note, guard your memories as they will always be precious to you.

Example Sentences

After being on the waiting list for almost four years, she said being given a new hand was "the most precious gift".

From BBC • May 7, 2026

A typical workday for Granados entails diving 10 metres below the surface with an oxygen tank to monitor the precious gardens.

From Barron's • May 7, 2026

The colors offer precious flashes of charm in this novel’s harsh, stony setting.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 1, 2026

That would open up precious airport slots, gates and routes, and could create opportunities for other carriers to expand.

From MarketWatch • May 1, 2026

“Fine, here it is. Take it, take it! See if I care! Ivan, you can explain to your mother how you lost her precious emerald at cards!”

From "The Long-Lost Home" by Maryrose Wood