valuable

American  

[val-yoo-uh-buhl, -yuh-buhl] / ˈvæl yu ə bəl, -yə bəl /

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 British  

/ 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

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

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

Example Sentences

“But in today’s landscape, benching your stars isn’t realistic. Wins are too valuable, and money — whether we admit it or not — drives everything.”

From MarketWatch

For all the arguments against his central conceit, Mr. Dalrymple has written a spirited and valuable book.

From The Wall Street Journal

The government wouldn’t allot valuable rations to a dead woman.

From Literature

The research also positions the African turquoise killifish as a valuable new tool for exploring how organs change with age and for rapidly testing treatments that could help preserve organ health later in life.

From Science Daily

But Stafford began practicing in mid-August and produced at a level that makes him a favorite to win his first NFL most valuable player.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• beneficial
• costly
• expensive
• helpful
• important
• invaluable
• prized
• profitable
• relevant
• scarce
• treasured
• useful
• valued
• worthwhile