worthwhile
Americanadjective
adjective
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of worthwhile
Explanation
Things that are worthwhile are good — they're worth the time or money you spend on them. If you walked out of the theater and said "Wow, I'm glad I saw that movie!", then your film viewing trip was worthwhile. If going to the gym helped you get in better shape, it was worthwhile. If hanging out in the park made you happy, it was worthwhile. If something is a total waste of time and you wish you hadn't done it, then it wasn't worthwhile.
Vocabulary lists containing worthwhile
Because of Mr. Terupt
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List 9
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"The Ugly One," Vocabulary from Chapters 21-25
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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.
But when you’re meal planning, it’s worth asking yourself: would one extra stop save me enough money — or bring me enough joy — to make it worthwhile this week?
From Salon • May 22, 2026
"I always get the Queen smiling, I might stop out for several nights but when I get her smiling, it's always worthwhile," he said in 2016.
From BBC • May 10, 2026
It is worthwhile to know what their agendas are.
From Slate • May 7, 2026
The gaming platform said that the move would be worthwhile over the long haul.
From MarketWatch • May 1, 2026
In a way, this feels like the most worthwhile game.
From "The Bletchley Riddle" by Ruta Sepetys and Steve Sheinkin
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.
