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.
That means finding worthwhile uses that increase productivity enough that customers are willing to pay the full cost of developing and using the technology.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 18, 2026
"We think that it could really be worthwhile to look at the physiology of crayfish to see if something there is influencing their body size."
From Science Daily ● Oct. 16, 2026
“The Social Reckoning” exists to make what we already know compelling again, reminding — perhaps even convincing — viewers that journalism is not only worthwhile, but critically important.
From Salon ● Oct. 11, 2026
But while some growers, such as Carter, are interested in trying out new tech, many will wonder whether investing in it is really worthwhile.
From BBC ● Sep. 30, 2026
I wanted my trip to sound like a worthwhile journey, but suddenly my travels felt aimless.
From "Life Is So Good" by George Dawson
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Get a wordDefinitions 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.
