valuable

[ val-yoo-uh-buhl, -yuh-buhl ]

adjective

1. having considerable monetary worth; costing or bringing a high price:

   a valuable painting; a valuable crop.

   Antonyms: worthless

2. having qualities worthy of respect, admiration, or esteem:

   a valuable friend.

   Antonyms: worthless

3. of considerable use, service, or importance:

   valuable information.

   Antonyms: worthless

noun

1. Usually valuables. articles of considerable value, as of personal property, especially those of relatively small size:

   They locked their valuables in the hotel safe.

valuable

/ ˈvæljʊəbəl /

adjective

1. having considerable monetary worth
2. of considerable importance or quality

   valuable information

   a valuable friend

3. able to be valued

noun

1. usually plural a valuable article of personal property, esp jewellery

Derived Forms

• ˈvaluableness, noun
• ˈvaluably, adverb

Other Words From

• valu·a·ble·ness noun
• valu·a·bly adverb
• non·valu·a·ble adjective
• over·valu·a·ble adjective
• over·valu·a·ble·ness noun
• over·valu·a·bly adverb
• un·valu·a·ble adjective
• un·valu·a·bly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of valuable¹

First recorded in 1580–90; value (verb) + -able

Synonym Study

Valuable, precious refer to that which has monetary or other value. Valuable applies to whatever has value, but especially to what has considerable monetary value or special usefulness, rarity, etc.: a valuable watch. That which is precious has a very high intrinsic value or is very dear for its own sake, associations, or the like: a precious jewel, friendship.

Example Sentences

Instead of a four-game Autumn Nations Series, England played two World Cup warm-up matches at Twickenham, which are far less commercially valuable.

From BBC

A loyal person who didn’t yet know exactly what they were doing was more valuable than a seasoned professional whom they couldn’t trust.

From Los Angeles Times

"These coins are incredibly rare and valuable to the Scottish nation," he said.

From BBC

"We leveraged a valuable tool that opens the door to a more complete understanding of devastating brain disorders and how they begin."

From Science Daily

McQuade added, however, that the Florida ethics panel's decision, while valuable, also may not rise to the same rigor and standard of probing as seen at the federal level.

From Salon

Related Words

• beneficial
• costly
• expensive
• helpful
• important
• invaluable
• prized
• profitable
• relevant
• scarce
• treasured
• useful
• valued
• worthwhile