precious

[presh-uhs]

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.

noun

1. a dearly beloved person; darling.

adverb

1. extremely; very.

   She wastes precious little time.

precious

/ 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!

adverb

1. informal,  (intensifier)

   there's precious little left

Other Word Forms

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of precious¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of precious¹

C13: from Old French precios, from Latin pretiōsus valuable, from pretium price, value

Synonym Study

See valuable.

Example Sentences

Investors worried about the future of the dollar or simply looking for a hedge against turbulence have piled into the precious metal, sending prices to numerous records this year.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

She said the opportunity to see Santa one last time before he moves into his "forever home" will delight him and allow him "to make precious memories" with his two brothers.

Read more on BBC

The ratings company noted that corporate bonds, precious metals, Bitcoin, secured loans, and other riskier investments comprised 24% of Tether’s reserves as of Sept. 30, up from 17% a year ago.

Read more on Barron's

Twenty-four percent of Tether’s reserves consisted of corporate bonds, precious metals, Bitcoin, and other riskier investments as of September 30.

Read more on Barron's

Twenty-four percent of Tether’s reserves consisted of corporate bonds, precious metals, Bitcoin, and other riskier investments as of September 30.

Read more on Barron's