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

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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

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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

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.

Example Sentences

These materials are often considered waste, but they may still contain valuable elements that were not economically recoverable at the time.

From Science Daily • Apr. 16, 2026

Looking back at previous stock picks can offer a valuable lens into how ideas evolve once they meet real market conditions.

From Barron's • Apr. 15, 2026

It flew in its Wagner mercenaries to support his forces and used his territory as its logistical access point to half-a-dozen sub-Saharan countries where it scooped up valuable reserves of gold, diamond and timber.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 15, 2026

By effectively creating a floating saltmarsh, the project aims to provide vital habitat for fish and marine life, enhance biodiversity, and restore valuable ecosystem functions to heavily modified coastal environments.

From BBC • Apr. 13, 2026

If Penkovsky was a loyal Soviet agent trying to deceive the CIA, he’d hand over what spies call “chicken feed”—secret information that is true, but not truly valuable.

From "Fallout: Spies, Superbombs, and the Ultimate Cold War Showdown" by Steve Sheinkin

Related Words

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