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.
If we must open ourselves up to books, are there any that either ameliorate this danger, or else make reading them worthwhile?
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 19, 2026
In his first Substack blog post - on which the comment function is not enabled - Edwards said he was "attempting to rebuild some kind of worthwhile life".
From BBC ● Jun. 26, 2026
It’s hard to predict what company will be added next, but Berkshire would be a worthwhile addition.
From Barron's ● Jun. 24, 2026
Humboldt County, including the cities of Eureka, Arcata and Ferndale, isn’t exactly easy for Angelenos to get to, but the pilgrimage is absolutely worthwhile.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 24, 2026
"So, I changed my mind. The Palazzo Pisani comes later. It won't run away, will it? And the Palazzo Contarini"—he dangled the sack in front of Riccio's face—"had a few worthwhile things in it too."
From "The Thief Lord" by Cornelia Funke
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.
