invaluable

invaluable — adjective

1. so extremely useful or important that its worth cannot be measured or calculated

1.adjectiveC1
Definition

so extremely useful or important that its worth cannot be measured or calculated — for example, the advice of an experienced mentor or the support of a trusted friend during a difficult time.

Example

The guidance that Dr. Aiko Tanaka gave me during my first year as a teacher was absolutely invaluable.

collocation: absolutely invaluable

That old sewing machine proved invaluable when Beatriz started her small clothing business.

collocation: proved invaluable

Common collocations
  • absolutely invaluable
  • truly invaluable
  • prove invaluable
  • invaluable to someone
  • invaluable for something
  • invaluable when [situation]
  • invaluable experience
  • invaluable advice
Synonyms
  • priceless

    stronger emotional or sentimental connotation; often used for personal or artistic treasures

  • indispensable

    focuses on necessity rather than degree of worth; something you cannot do without

  • priceless

    can also refer to humor or absurdity (a priceless expression), which invaluable cannot

Antonyms

Usage Note

Frequently used with verbs like prove, find, or consider. Because invaluable already expresses an extreme degree, avoid intensifying it with very; absolutely or truly are more natural choices.

Common Mistakes

I found his help very invaluable.
I found his help absolutely invaluable.
invaluable already expresses an extreme; pair it with absolutely or truly instead of very.
The old furniture was invaluable, so I gave it to the junk collector.
The old furniture was valueless, so I gave it to the junk collector.
invaluable does not mean not valuable; it means extremely valuable.

Word family

  • value
    nounA2
  • value
    verbB1
  • valuable
    adjectiveB1
  • valuably
    adverbC1
  • valueless
    adjectiveC1
  • valuation
    nounC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

Invaluable, priceless, valuable, and precious all describe things of great worth, but they differ in nuance. Invaluable emphasises extreme usefulness or importance that cannot be measured — a mentor's wisdom, a rare skill. Priceless adds an emotional or sentimental colour; a family heirloom or a child's drawing is priceless even if it has no practical use. Valuable is the broadest term, covering anything with significant monetary, practical, or personal worth. Precious focuses on something cherished or rare — it can apply to objects (precious gems), relationships (precious time with family), or qualities (precious moments). For example: 'Her guidance was invaluable during the crisis' (practical importance), but 'That old photograph is precious to our family' (emotional attachment).

invaluable ↗pricelessvaluable ↗precious ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • prove invaluable
  • find something invaluable
  • consider something invaluable
  • be invaluable to someone
  • be invaluable for something

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

Formed in the late 1500s from the prefix in- (intensifying 'not' or 'without') and valuable. Unlike most in- words that negate (invisible = not visible), invaluable took on an intensifying sense: 'so valuable that a price cannot be estimated.' The prefix here acts as a magnifier rather than a negator, a pattern shared with a small group of words such as incalculable and immeasurable.