value

[ val-yoo ]

noun

1. relative worth, merit, or importance:

   He knows the value of a college education.

   In chess, the queen has a very high value.

   Synonyms: utility

2. monetary or material worth, as in commerce or trade:

   This piece of land has greatly increased in value.

3. the worth of something in terms of the amount of other things for which it can be exchanged or in terms of some medium of exchange:

   A weekly allowance can help children understand the value of money.

   When planning how much to give to charity, consider the value of your time as a volunteer.

   Synonyms: price, cost

4. equivalent worth or return in money, material, services, etc.:

   Employees agree to give value for value received and to perform their duties in an efficient and workmanlike manner.

5. estimated or assigned worth; valuation:

   The painting has a current value of $500,000, according to Sotheby’s.

6. denomination, as of a monetary issue or a postage stamp:

   The 10-cent values of this 1940 U.S. stamp series were issued in lesser quantities than the 2-cent and 1-cent values.

7. Mathematics.
   1. magnitude; quantity; number represented by a figure, symbol, or the like:

      the value of an angle;

      the value of x;

      the value of a sum.

   2. a point in the range of a function; a point in the range corresponding to a given point in the domain of a function:

      The value of x2 at 2 is 4.

8. import or meaning; force; significance:

   The value of a word depends partly on its user and context.

9. favorable regard; liking:

   Some of my immigrant students seemed not to share my high value of their culture.

10. values, Sociology. the attitudes, behaviors, social structures, etc., toward which the people of a society or group have a deeply ingrained, positive or negative emotional regard:

    In the prevailing American system of values, personal liberty is cherished, while lying to the public is condemned.

11. Ethics. any object or quality desirable as a means or as an end in itself.
12. Fine Arts.
    1. degree of lightness or darkness in a color:

       In this painting he pairs greens of different value with the occasional touch of a complementary color.

    2. the relation of light and shade in a painting, drawing, or the like.
13. Music. the relative length or duration of a tone signified by a note:

    In a triplet, the three eighth notes have the same value as two in duple meter.

14. values, Mining. the marketable portions of an orebody:

    The rock must then be processed to extract the values from the ore.

15. Phonetics.
    1. quality ( def 11 ).
    2. the phonetic equivalent of a letter, as the sound of a in hat, sang, etc.

verb (used with object)

, val·ued, val·u·ing.

1. to regard or esteem highly:

   He values her friendship.

   Synonyms: prize

2. to calculate or reckon the monetary value of; give a specified material or financial value to; assess; appraise:

   The company values its assets at 80 million dollars.

3. to consider with respect to worth, excellence, usefulness, or importance:

   Don’t rush to decide on this option without first valuing the advantages of privacy and control against the higher cost.

value

/ ˈvæljuː /

noun

1. the desirability of a thing, often in respect of some property such as usefulness or exchangeability; worth, merit, or importance
2. an amount, esp a material or monetary one, considered to be a fair exchange in return for a thing; assigned valuation

   the value of the picture is £10 000

3. reasonable or equivalent return; satisfaction

   value for money

4. precise meaning or significance
5. plural the moral principles and beliefs or accepted standards of a person or social group

   a person with old-fashioned values

6. maths
   1. a particular magnitude, number, or amount

      the value of the variable was 7

   2. the particular quantity that is the result of applying a function or operation for some given argument

      the value of the function for x=3 was 9

7. music short for time value
8. in painting, drawing, etc
   1. a gradation of tone from light to dark or of colour luminosity
   2. the relation of one of these elements to another or to the whole picture
9. phonetics the quality or tone of the speech sound associated with a written character representing it

   `g' has the value dʒ in English `gem'

verb

1. to assess or estimate the worth, merit, or desirability of; appraise
2. to have a high regard for, esp in respect of worth, usefulness, merit, etc; esteem or prize

   to value freedom

3. foll by at to fix the financial or material worth of (a unit of currency, work of art, etc)

   jewels valued at £40 000

value

/ văl′yo̅o̅ /

1. Mathematics.
   An assigned or calculated numerical quantity.
2. The relative darkness or lightness of a color. Value measures where a color falls on an achromatic scale from white to black.
3. Compare hue

Other Words From

• mis·val·ue verb (used with object) misvalued misvaluing
• non·val·ue noun
• out·val·ue verb (used with object) outvalued outvaluing
• pre·val·ue noun verb (used with object) prevalued prevaluing
• self-val·u·ing adjective
• su·per·val·ue noun verb (used with object) supervalued supervaluing

Word History and Origins

Origin of value¹

First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English, from Old French, noun use of feminine past participle of valoir “to be of worth,” from Latin valēre “to be strong, be well, be of worth”; wield

Word History and Origins

Origin of value¹

C14: from Old French, from valoir, from Latin valēre to be worth, be strong

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. of value, having notable worth, usefulness, or importance:

   Avoid packing items of value in your checked baggage.

   She always contributes something of value to the discussion.

More idioms and phrases containing value

see at face value .

Synonym Study

Value, worth imply intrinsic excellence or desirability. Value is that quality of anything which renders it desirable or useful: the value of sunlight or good books. Worth implies especially spiritual qualities of mind and character, or moral excellence: Few knew her true worth.

Example Sentences

Back then, the artist said he conceived of his work as a satirical jab at market speculation, asking the question, “On what basis does an object acquire value in the art system?”

From New York Times

Lamirand took steps to protect her mental health by cutting social media ties with people whose values aren’t aligned with hers.

From Los Angeles Times

I thanked her for being courageous and trusting that she’d instilled in me the tools, the qualities, the values that would allow me to thrive out there and come back.

From Los Angeles Times

The Dodgers value players who get stronger under the spotlight.

From Los Angeles Times

The neighborhood, Old Fig Garden, is one of the wealthiest in Fresno County; homes are valued at more than $1 million.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• benefit
• content
• import
• importance
• meaning
• power
• profit
• purpose
• quality
• sense
• significance
• use
• valuation

When To Use

What are other ways to say value?

To value something is to consider it with respect to worth, excellence, usefulness, or importance. How is value different from esteem, appreciate, and prize? Learn more on Thesaurus.com.