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  • worth
    worth
    preposition
    good or important enough to justify (what is specified).
  • Worth
    Worth
    noun
    a town in NE Illinois.
Synonyms

worth

1 American  
[wurth] / wɜrθ /

preposition

  1. good or important enough to justify (what is specified).

    advice worth taking;

    a place worth visiting.

  2. having a value of, or equal in value to, as in money.

    This vase is worth 12 dollars.

  3. having property to the value or amount of.

    They are worth millions.


noun

  1. excellence of character or quality as commanding esteem.

    women of worth.

  2. usefulness or importance, as to the world, to a person, or for a purpose.

    Your worth to the world is inestimable.

  3. value, as in money.

  4. a quantity of something of a specified value.

    ten cents' worth of candy.

  5. wealth; riches; property or possessions.

    net worth.

idioms

  1. for all one is worth, to the utmost.

    He ran for all he was worth.

  2. 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.
  1. to happen or betide.

    woe worth the day.


Worth 3 American  
[wurth] / wɜrθ /

noun

  1. a town in NE Illinois.


worth 1 British  
/ wɜːθ /

adjective

  1. worthy of; meriting or justifying

    it's not worth discussing

    an idea worth some thought

  2. having a value of

    the book is worth 30 pounds

  3. to the utmost; to the full extent of one's powers or ability

  4. extremely helpful, kind, etc

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

noun

  1. high quality; excellence

  2. value, price

  3. the amount or quantity of something of a specified value

    five pounds worth of petrol

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Worth 2 British  
/ wɜːθ, vɔrt /

noun

  1. Charles Frederick. 1825–95, English couturier, who founded Parisian haute couture

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

worth 3 British  
/ wɜːθ /

verb

  1. archaic (intr) to happen or betide (esp in the phrase woe worth the day )

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

worth More Idioms  

    More idioms and phrases containing worth


Synonym Usage

See desert. See value.

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.

Keep Reading on Vocabulary.com

Vocabulary lists containing worth

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.

See Examples For:

Researchers have long known that it helps the brain recognize experiences worth repeating.

From Science Daily ● Nov. 9, 2026

With some older and less expensive blood thinners available, Bayer will have to work that much harder to convince insurers that the added protection is worth paying for a costlier branded product.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 9, 2026

The cyber-attack last month saw fridges and freezers in hundreds of supermarkets across France heated up, which spoilt fresh and frozen food estimated to be worth millions of euros.

From BBC ● Nov. 9, 2026

My partner owns his home outright and it’s worth about $350,000.

From MarketWatch ● Nov. 9, 2026

He knew, just like the entire Academy knew, that my mom held almost every record worth holding.

From "Glitch" by Laura Martin

Wing is investing up to $125 million over the next two years on a new manufacturing facility in Fort Worth, with the capacity to build tens of thousands of aircraft each year.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 9, 2026

The campaign couldn’t immediately be reached for comment following Worth Girvan’s announcement.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 7, 2026

Worth Girvan’s announcement came after the latest vote tally Friday evening showed her widening her lead over rival Tim Gaspar, with 51% of the vote to Gaspar’s 49%.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 7, 2026

At a Woodland Hills watch party, Worth Girvan said she was feeling confident about the early returns, which showed her nearly tied with Gaspar.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 4, 2026

And I sinned all right, just praying perfect little John Worth would turn on the crate wrong and go tumbling to the floor.

From "Worth" by A. LaFaye

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