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

Synonym Usage

See valuable.

Other Word Forms

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

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

See Examples For:

precious

A broad rise in global bond yields is likely weighing on the precious metal, says Eleonex’s Stefan Arsenovic in an email.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 14, 2026

"It is an extremely precious thing, almost like gold, because what can you do without water?" he said.

From Barron's ● Jul. 13, 2026

Now, researchers at Tulane University have uncovered an important reason why the precious metal remains so resistant to tarnishing.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 12, 2026

By the will of the people, the coast was enshrined in state law as a precious public asset accessible to the many, not a private playground fenced off for the few.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 11, 2026

A pinch of the precious salt and a few bean sprouts filled her with energy for a while, but it wore off.

From "A Girl Named Disaster" by Nancy Farmer