valuable
Americanadjective
-
having considerable monetary worth; costing or bringing a high price.
a valuable painting; a valuable crop.
- Antonyms:
- worthless
-
having qualities worthy of respect, admiration, or esteem.
a valuable friend.
- Antonyms:
- worthless
-
of considerable use, service, or importance.
valuable information.
- Antonyms:
- worthless
noun
adjective
-
having considerable monetary worth
-
of considerable importance or quality
a valuable friend
valuable information
-
able to be valued
noun
Related Words
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.
Other Word Forms
- nonvaluable adjective
- overvaluable adjective
- overvaluableness noun
- overvaluably adverb
- unvaluable adjective
- unvaluably adverb
- valuableness noun
- valuably adverb
Etymology
Origin of valuable
Explanation
Something that has worth is valuable. Often, valuable things are worth money, but a spy can provide valuable information that might save lives. When you use this word as a noun — "Were any valuables taken during the robbery?" — you usually are referring to things that are worth money: jewelry, electronics, etc. As an adjective, the word covers more territory. A person can be a valuable addition to a team if she helps it win. The most valuable things in life have nothing to do with money: friends, family, good health. If it is something we want, need, or respect, then it is valuable.
Vocabulary lists containing valuable
List 6
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Cover Letter Language
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This Week In Words: Current Events Vocab for March 6–12, 2021
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The most important machines in the world are made by the most valuable company you’ve never heard of.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 20, 2026
AI, he says, is making Salesforce more valuable to its customers than ever.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 20, 2026
The House of the Pelican by Elisabeth Kyle, tells the story of Janet, who cannot find the way back to the house where an old man showed her a valuable gold musical box.
From BBC • Apr. 18, 2026
The speaker is valuable, Liu admits, because of Miyashita’s reputation as one of the greats, placing him alongside designers like Jun Takahashi and Yohji Yamamoto.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 17, 2026
“And you are wasting valuable time. What is your name?”
From "Not Nothing" by Gayle Forman
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
