worth
preposition
good or important enough to justify (what is specified).
worth
1 American
[wurth]
/ wɜrθ /
preposition
-
good or important enough to justify (what is specified).
advice worth taking;
a place worth visiting.
-
having a value of, or equal in value to, as in money.
This vase is worth 12 dollars.
-
having property to the value or amount of.
They are worth millions.
noun
-
excellence of character or quality as commanding esteem.
women of worth.
-
usefulness or importance, as to the world, to a person, or for a purpose.
Your worth to the world is inestimable.
-
value, as in money.
-
a quantity of something of a specified value.
ten cents' worth of candy.
-
wealth; riches; property or possessions.
net worth.
idioms
-
for all one is worth, to the utmost.
He ran for all he was worth.
-
for what it’s worth, whether or not (what is stated) is useful or important enough to justify.
For what it’s worth, I think you should apologize to him.
worth
2
American
[wurth]
/ wɜrθ /
verb (used without object)
Archaic.
Worth
3
American
[wurth]
/ wɜrθ /
noun
worth
1
British
/ wɜːθ /
adjective
-
worthy of; meriting or justifying
it's not worth discussing
an idea worth some thought
-
having a value of
the book is worth 30 pounds
-
to the utmost; to the full extent of one's powers or ability
-
extremely helpful, kind, etc
noun
-
high quality; excellence
-
value, price
-
the amount or quantity of something of a specified value
five pounds worth of petrol
Worth
2
British
/ wɜːθ, vɔrt /
noun
worth
3
British
/ wɜːθ /
verb
worth
More Idioms
Related Words
Etymology
Origin of worth1
First recorded before 900; Middle English; Old English weorth, worth, wurth; cognate with Old High German werd, Old Frisian werth, Old Norse verthr, Gothic wairths
Origin of worth2
First recorded before 900; Middle English worthen, Old English wurthan, weorthan, wyrthan; cognate with German werden, Old Norse vertha, Gothic wairthan “to become,” Latin vertere “to turn”; see verse
Explanation
The noun worth refers to the monetary value of something. If your grandmother gives you a strange old coin from her collection, you can have it appraised to determine its worth. The noun worth also means the inherent value of something based on the qualities of excellence, usefulness or importance. Don't underestimate your worth to the group; the whole bake sale would have fallen apart without you, and your brownies were delicious. As an adjective worth describes something that has a value or deserves to be treated a certain way, like when your hard work baking is worth the effort.
Vocabulary lists containing worth
Common Five-letter Words for Wordle, List 4
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"Sonnet 116"
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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.
I didn’t even have a permanent job at Lewis & Clark, but I thought, If this is something I only get to do once, it’s worth it.
From Slate • May 27, 2026
It’s not open to the public, so I was only able to see the exterior, but it was worth it.
From Los Angeles Times • May 27, 2026
"It's hard as a translator to actually charge what the work is worth because people just don't want to pay it," the 24-year-old added.
From Barron's • May 27, 2026
"It's worth taking a step to recognise how fantastic that is, and it adds a real USP to rail travel," said the campaign's Michael Solomon Williams.
From BBC • May 26, 2026
“More like you’re nosing around to see if anybody has anything worth stealing. Now you git out of here and stay out. I don’t want boys like you snooping around my house. Go on, now!”
From "The Seven Wonders of Sassafras Springs" by Betty G. Birney
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.
