valuable

[val-yoo-uh-buhl, -yuh-buhl]

adjective

1. having considerable monetary worth; costing or bringing a high price.

   a valuable painting; a valuable crop.

   Antonyms: worthless

2. having qualities worthy of respect, admiration, or esteem.

   a valuable friend.

   Antonyms: worthless

3. of considerable use, service, or importance.

   valuable information.

   Antonyms: worthless

noun

1. Usually valuables. articles of considerable value, as of personal property, especially those of relatively small size.

   They locked their valuables in the hotel safe.

valuable

/ ˈvæljʊəbəl /

adjective

1. having considerable monetary worth

2. of considerable importance or quality

   a valuable friend

   valuable information

3. able to be valued

noun

1. (usually plural) a valuable article of personal property, esp jewellery

Other Word Forms

• valuableness noun
• valuably adverb
• nonvaluable adjective
• overvaluable adjective
• overvaluableness noun
• overvaluably adverb
• unvaluable adjective
• unvaluably adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of valuable¹

First recorded in 1580–90; value (verb) + -able

Synonym Study

Valuable, precious refer to that which has monetary or other value. Valuable applies to whatever has value, but especially to what has considerable monetary value or special usefulness, rarity, etc.: a valuable watch. That which is precious has a very high intrinsic value or is very dear for its own sake, associations, or the like: a precious jewel, friendship.

Example Sentences

Laughing at ICE’s failures represents a valuable form of political resistance, as humor historically has been used to mock tyrants and redirect frustration into something positive.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Greg also wore tiny flippers that looked like duck feet and a neon bubble attached to his waist to carry our valuables and make us visible to boats.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

“That’s just how his brain worked,” she says of his keen eye that transformed everyday ephemera into a valuable historical archive.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Ohtani, who was hitless in his previous seven at-bats of this series, singled to right field to drive in a valuable insurance run.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

In two victories over the Rams, the two-time NFL most valuable player passed for a combined 485 yards and eight touchdowns, and rushed for 165 yards.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• beneficial 
• costly 
• expensive 
• helpful 
• important 
• invaluable 
• prized www.thesaurus.com
• profitable 
• relevant 
• scarce 
• treasured www.thesaurus.com
• useful 
• valued 
• worthwhile