worth
worth — adjective
1. having a particular price or cash value — used to say how much money you would n
having a particular price or cash value — used to say how much money you would need to pay to buy something, or how much something could be sold for.
The old painting that Hana found in the attic is worth over eight thousand dollars.
be worth + amount of money
Marco asked the jeweller how much his grandmother's diamond ring was worth.
how much something is worth
A used smartphone in good condition is usually worth about half its original price.
The damaged vase was still worth a fair amount because of its age and craftsmanship.
- worth + money/dollars/pounds
- worth a fortune
- worth nothing
- well worth
- barely worth
- worthless
having no monetary value at all
Grammar Patterns
be worth + amount
Usage Note
This adjective is always used after a linking verb (be, seem, become) and is never placed before a noun. You cannot say 'a worth car' — you must say 'a car that is worth...'
Common Mistakes
2. owning a specific total of money and property — used to describe how rich a pers
owning a specific total of money and property — used to describe how rich a person, family, or organisation is.
The billionaire is said to be worth over forty billion dollars after selling his company.
be worth + wealth amount
Ritu's family is worth several million, though they live quite modestly in a small town.
At just thirty years old, the tech founder was already worth more than ten million.
How much is the university endowment worth after last year's investments?
- worth millions/billions
- worth a fortune
- net worth
- valued at
more formal, used for organisations rather than individuals
Grammar Patterns
be worth + amount
Usage Note
Commonly used in financial reporting and discussions of net worth. Subject is typically a person, family, or organisation.
3. giving you enough benefit or satisfaction for the price you paid — used when som
giving you enough benefit or satisfaction for the price you paid — used when something is reasonably priced or a good deal.
The restaurant's lunch menu is only twelve dollars and is definitely worth the money.
worth the money
Kenji bought a used bicycle for fifty dollars and felt it was well worth the price.
well worth the price
These running shoes cost more than the others, but they are worth every penny because they last twice as long.
The guided tour was a bit expensive, though Noor decided it was worth it for the amazing views.
worth it
- worth the money
- worth every penny
- well worth it
- definitely worth
- a bargain
stronger — suggests the price is surprisingly low
- good value
common in British English, used as a noun phrase
- overpriced
costing more than it is worth
- not worth it
the opposite judgement
Grammar Patterns
be worth + determiner + money noun
Usage Note
Often used in the fixed phrase 'worth it' (informal) and 'well worth' to add emphasis. The 'it' in 'worth it' refers to the thing being evaluated.
Common Mistakes
4. providing enough enjoyment, advantage, or reward to make the time, effort, risk,
providing enough enjoyment, advantage, or reward to make the time, effort, risk, or difficulty seem acceptable — used when the outcome justifies the cost or hard work involved.
Climbing the mountain took six hours, but the sunrise from the top was worth the effort.
be worth + noun phrase
Ayesha wondered if the long flight would be worth the trouble just for a weekend trip.
The wait at the clinic was over an hour, though the doctor's careful explanation made it worth the wait.
Dylan trained every day for months, and crossing the finish line made all the pain worth it.
worth it (informal, effort-reward frame)
Reopening the investigation is worth considering, given the new evidence that has come to light.
- worth the effort
- worth the wait
- worth the risk
- worth the trouble
- worth it
- rewarding
focuses on the positive outcome; slightly more formal
- worthwhile
can go before a noun (a worthwhile experience)
Grammar Patterns
be worth + gerund/-ing form
be worth + noun phrase (effort, wait, risk)
Usage Note
Subject is typically an activity, experience, or outcome. The gerund pattern ('worth doing') is especially common. The pronoun 'it' in 'worth it' refers to the effort, risk, or cost already mentioned.
Common Mistakes
5. important, interesting, or good enough to deserve a particular type of attention
important, interesting, or good enough to deserve a particular type of attention or treatment — for example, being worth noticing, mentioning, or saving.
One detail in the report is worth highlighting: sales have doubled in the past year.
worth + gerund (passive meaning: worth being highlighted)
Eitan thought the small museum was not worth visiting, since most exhibits had no English labels.
The director said the young actress's performance was worth noting for its emotional depth.
Several old buildings in the neighbourhood are worth preserving, according to the local history group.
- worth mentioning
- worth noting
- worth highlighting
- worth saving
- worth preserving
- deserving of
more formal, followed by a noun phrase (deserving of attention)
- meriting
formal, used in academic writing
- unworthy of
not deserving of attention or treatment
Grammar Patterns
be worth + gerund/-ing form (passive meaning)
Usage Note
In this pattern, the gerund has a passive meaning: 'worth mentioning' = 'worth being mentioned' or 'deserves to be mentioned'. The subject is the thing that receives the action, not the doer.
6. useful, beneficial, or interesting enough to justify doing, having, or experienc
useful, beneficial, or interesting enough to justify doing, having, or experiencing — used to recommend an activity, place, or thing as a good use of time or resources.
The national park is free to enter and well worth a visit if you are driving through the area.
worth + noun phrase (a visit / a look / a try)
Christopher picked up a book about local history and found it was worth a read during the long train ride.
Dewi said the new coffee shop near the station is worth a try, especially for their matcha latte.
The proposal is worth serious consideration, even though it will require significant funding.
- worth a visit
- worth a look
- worth a try
- worth a read
- worth consideration
- worthwhile
can be used attributively (a worthwhile investment)
- beneficial
focuses on the positive outcome rather than the evaluation
Grammar Patterns
be worth + noun phrase (a visit, a look, a try, consideration)
Usage Note
Unlike sense 4 and 5, this sense is followed by a noun phrase describing the action itself (a visit, a try, a look), rather than a gerund. Distinguish from sense 4 (effort/reward balance) and sense 5 (deserving of action).
for what it is worth
idiomused to emphasise that you are giving an opinion or suggestion that may not be very important or helpful.
For what it is worth, I think you should apply for the job even if the salary seems low.
for all one is worth
idiomwith as much effort or energy as possible.
The swimmer kicked for all he was worth to reach the shore before the current pulled him out.
worth your salt
idiomdeserving respect because you do your job well; competent at what you do.
Any translator worth their salt would catch that subtle difference in meaning between the two phrases.
extremely useful or valuable, especially because of helpful qualities or skills.
A good assistant who can handle all the scheduling and paperwork is worth her weight in gold.
having no real value or legal force, especially because the promises made cannot be trusted.
The contract was not worth the paper it was printed on because the company had already gone bankrupt.
not worth doing because it is against the rules or may cause you to lose your job.
The security guard said it would be more than his job was worth to let anyone in without an ID card.
It is better to keep what you have than to risk losing it by trying to get something better.
Mia decided to keep her current job because a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.
Why risk your savings on a risky investment? A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.
With as much effort or energy as possible.
Tom ran for all he was worth to catch the bus.
Sara sang for all it was worth at the talent show.
for what it’s worth
idiomUsed to show that you are giving your opinion but it may not be helpful or important.
For what it's worth, I think you made the right choice.
For what it's worth, my advice is to wait a bit longer.
Not worth doing because it could get you fired or break the rules.
It's more than my job's worth to let you in without a ticket.
The guard said it was more than his job's worth to open the gate early.
The effort or cost of doing something is too high compared to the benefit.
After calculating the expenses, he decided the game was not worth the candle.
If the profit is so small, the whole project is not worth the candle.
Having no real value, especially because the promises are not reliable or legally valid.
That contract is not worth the paper it's printed on.
His apology was not worth the paper it was written on.
worth your/its salt
idiomDeserving respect because you do your job well or are competent.
Any teacher worth her salt knows how to engage students.
A mechanic worth his salt can fix any engine problem.
Extremely useful or valuable.
A good dictionary is worth its weight in gold for a writer.
My assistant is worth her weight in gold because she is so efficient.
Interesting or useful enough for someone to do, often because of a reward.
It will be worth your while to attend the conference.
If you help me move, I'll make it worth your while.
worth — noun
1. the price or financial value of something — how much money it could be sold for
the price or financial value of something — how much money it could be sold for in a normal transaction.
The insurance company estimated the worth of the jewellery collection at roughly two hundred thousand dollars.
the worth of something + estimated amount
Kwame was curious about the worth of the old stamps he had inherited from his grandfather.
The worth of the land has increased ten times since the new train station was built nearby.
A painting by that artist can change hands for far more than its original worth at auction.
- market worth
- net worth
- true worth
- estimated worth
- monetary worth
Grammar Patterns
the worth of something
something's worth
Usage Note
Often used in financial and legal contexts. 'Net worth' is a fixed phrase referring to total assets minus liabilities. 'Worth' is uncountable — you cannot say 'a worth' or 'worths'.
Common Mistakes
2. the quantity of something that a specified amount of money can buy — used to sho
the quantity of something that a specified amount of money can buy — used to show the relationship between cost and amount.
Devika grabbed ten dollars worth of snacks from the convenience store before the movie started.
amount + worth of + noun
The charity received a shipment of five thousand dollars worth of medical supplies from overseas donors.
Iris filled her basket with about thirty dollars worth of fresh vegetables at the farmers' market.
The thieves stole over a million dollars worth of electronics from the warehouse last night.
- dollars worth of
- pounds worth of
- money's worth
- get your money's worth
- value
can be used in the same pattern (ten dollars' value of goods)
Grammar Patterns
amount + worth of + noun
Usage Note
Used in the pattern '[amount] + worth + of + [item]'. The amount can be a sum of money, or less commonly a measurement of time or quantity.
3. the quality that makes someone or something important, useful, or admired — thei
the quality that makes someone or something important, useful, or admired — their real value beyond money.
Vikram proved his worth to the team by volunteering for the most difficult assignments without complaint.
prove one's worth
The worth of a good education goes far beyond the salary you can earn afterwards.
The community finally recognised the worth of the elderly librarian, who had quietly helped generations of students.
Hana felt the worth of her volunteer work was measured by the smiles of the children she taught.
- prove your worth
- show your worth
- true worth
- intrinsic worth
- personal worth
- value
broader, can be both monetary and moral
- merit
stronger focus on deserving praise or reward
- significance
emphasises importance or meaning rather than usefulness
- worthlessness
complete lack of value or usefulness
Grammar Patterns
the worth of someone/something
Usage Note
Often used in phrases about personal contribution ('show one's worth', 'prove one's worth') or in discussions of intangible value. Unlike sense 1, this sense cannot be measured in dollars.
4. a quantity of something sufficient for a given period — used to describe how muc
a quantity of something sufficient for a given period — used to describe how much of something is needed to last through a certain number of days, weeks, or months.
The hikers packed three days worth of food and water for the trek through the desert.
time period + worth of + noun
Rin downloaded a whole week worth of podcasts to listen to during the long bus journey.
The hospital stored a month worth of emergency supplies in case the roads became impassable during the rainy season.
The professor assigned at least six months worth of reading for the seminar, which overwhelmed the students.
- days worth of
- weeks worth of
- months worth of
- a lifetime worth of
- supply
more general; does not tie the quantity to a time period specifically
Grammar Patterns
time period + worth of + noun
Usage Note
Less common than senses 1-3. The pattern is '[quantity of time] + worth + of + [something]'. Can overlap with sense 2 when time and money are related (e.g., 'an hour's worth of work').
worth — preposition
1. equal in financial value to a specified amount — used to state the exchange rate
equal in financial value to a specified amount — used to state the exchange rate or equivalence between one currency, commodity, or item and another.
One British pound is currently worth about one dollar and thirty cents in US currency.
worth + currency equivalence
One gold coin at the time was worth roughly the same as a farm worker's monthly salary.
Each token in the game is worth five points, so players need to collect at least twenty to win.
During the sale, every coupon is worth an extra ten percent off the already reduced price.
- worth [amount] in
- worth roughly
- worth exactly
- equivalent to
more formal, used in official exchange rate contexts
Grammar Patterns
worth + amount/noun
Usage Note
This prepositional use overlaps with the adjective sense 1 (MONETARY VALUE). The difference is grammatical: as a preposition, 'worth' introduces a noun phrase that specifies the value, forming a prepositional phrase that can modify a noun ('a coupon worth $10') — whereas the adjective use always requires a linking verb.
2. having assets, income, or property that add up to a particular total — used in f
having assets, income, or property that add up to a particular total — used in financial profiles to report net worth or valuation.
The company's founder is worth an estimated two billion dollars, mostly in technology stocks.
worth + amount + in [assets]
The royal family of that small nation is worth several hundred million, including land and historic buildings.
According to the annual report, the pension fund is worth over fifty billion in total assets.
The university's endowment is worth nearly three billion dollars, making it one of the wealthiest educational institutions.
- worth [amount] in stocks
- worth [amount] in assets
- worth an estimated [amount]
- valued at
more passive construction, often used in official documents
Grammar Patterns
worth + amount + in assets
Usage Note
Formal register, used primarily in business and financial reporting. Distinguish from adjective sense 2 (HAVING WEALTH) which is more conversational. This prepositional use typically appears with 'in' to specify the type of assets.
3. deserving of a particular quality, treatment, or response — used to say that som
deserving of a particular quality, treatment, or response — used to say that something merits a certain kind of attention, reaction, or effort.
The proposal is worth serious consideration because it addresses a problem that affects thousands of families.
worth + noun (consideration, attention, notice)
Mark said the documentary about ocean pollution was worth everyone's attention, not just scientists.
A problem of this scale is worth the full resources of the government, in the mayor's view.
The old factory building is worth a closer look, since its structure could be reused for affordable housing.
- worth attention
- worth consideration
- worth notice
- worth effort
- deserving of
more formal; takes the same noun phrase structure
- unworthy of
formal negation
Grammar Patterns
worth + noun (attention, effort, consideration)
Usage Note
Distinguish from adjective sense 5 (WORTHY OF), which takes a gerund ('worth mentioning'), and adjective sense 6 (WORTHWHILE), which takes a noun for an activity ('worth a visit'). This prepositional sense takes a noun for an abstract quality ('worth attention,' 'worth consideration').
worth — verb
1. to happen or come to pass; to befall — an archaic verb only found in fixed liter
to happen or come to pass; to befall — an archaic verb only found in fixed literary expressions, most famously in the phrase 'woe worth the day' meaning 'woe befall the day' or 'cursed be the day.'
"Woe worth the day!" cried the king, collapsing into the chair as the messenger delivered the terrible news.
archaic construction: 'woe worth [noun]' = 'woe befall [noun]'
In old ballads, a storyteller might lament "woe worth the hour" when describing a tragic twist of fate.
"Woe worth the hunt," muttered the falconer, watching his best bird fly away into the mist.
A line from a medieval poem reads "woe worth the ship that brought me to this shore," expressing deep regret.
- woe worth
- befall
archaic, similar construction in old literature
Grammar Patterns
worth + complement (archaic clause)
Usage Note
This verb is completely obsolete in modern English except in the set phrase 'woe worth the day/time/hour', which appears in historical literature, poetry, and period dramas. Do NOT use this in modern speech or writing. The modern sense of 'worth' as a verb does not exist — all other uses are adjective, preposition, or noun.
Common Mistakes
Word family
- worthyadjectiveB2
- worthlessadjectiveB1
- worthwhileadjectiveB1
- worthinessnounC1
- worthlessnessnounC1
- unworthyadjectiveC1
Synonym discussion
Sense: noun/1
Worth, value, price, and cost all relate to how much something is considered to be 'worth' in monetary terms, but they differ in emphasis. 'Worth' focuses on inherent or estimated financial value — what something could reasonably sell for, especially in contexts like insurance or inheritance ('the worth of the estate'). 'Value' is the broadest term, covering both monetary worth and personal or moral significance ('the value of good teamwork'). 'Price' is the specific amount asked for or paid in a transaction ('the price of the house was $450,000') and is more concrete than 'worth.' 'Cost' refers to what you must spend to acquire something, often including production or maintenance ('the cost of building the bridge was $2 million'). In everyday conversation, 'value' is the most common choice; 'worth' tends to sound slightly more formal or financial unless used in set phrases like 'get your money's worth.'
Common collocations
Nouns
- worth
- net worth
- self-worth
- money's worth
Adverbs
- well worth
- barely worth
- hardly worth
- definitely worth
- certainly worth
- scarcely worth
Phrases
- get your money's worth
- prove your worth
- show your worth
- worth every penny
- for all one is worth
Prepositions
- worth of
Etymology
The modern English word 'worth' comes from the Old English weorþ (pronounced 'weh-orth'), which meant 'equal in value to' or 'deserving of.' This root can be traced further back to the Proto-Germanic *werþaz, meaning 'toward, opposite,' which developed the idea of 'equivalent value' — something that is 'worth' something else is its counterpart in value. The Germanic root is related to the Dutch 'waard' and German 'wert.' Interestingly, the modern noun sense ('net worth') and adjective uses all derive from the same ancient concept of equivalence and deserving, but the verb sense (found in 'woe worth the day') comes from a different Old English verb, weorþan, meaning 'to become, to happen,' which was spelled and pronounced similarly but was a separate word that eventually merged in form.