If something is worth a particular amount of money, it can be sold for that amount or is considered to have that value.
These books might be worth £80 or £90 or more to a collector.
His mother inherited a farm worth 15,000 dollars a year.
The contract was worth £25 million a year.
2. countable noun
Worth combines with amounts of money, so that when you talk about a particular amount of money'sworth of something, you mean the quantity of it that you can buy for that amount of money.
I went and bought about six dollars' worth of potato chips. [+ of]
The prepaid sim card gives you ten euros-worth of calls.
Worth is also a pronoun.
'How many do you want?'—'I'll have a pound's worth.'
3. countable noun
Worth combines with time expressions, so you can use worth when you are saying how long an amount of something will last. For example, a week's worth of food is the amount of food that will last you for a week.
You've got three years' worth of research money to do what you want with. [+ of]
The film is his own compilation of more than 50 hours-worth of footage.
Worth is also a pronoun.
There's really not very much food down there. About two weeks' worth.
4. adjective
If you say that something is worth having, you mean that it is pleasant or useful, and therefore a good thing to have.
He's decided to get a look at the house and see if it might be worth buying.
If this was what his job required, then the job wasn't really worth having.
Most things worth having never come easy.
5. adjective
If something is worth a particular action, or if an action is worth doing, it is considered to be important enough for that action.
No one is worth a great deal of sacrifice.
I am spending a lot of money and time on this boat, but it is worth it.
This restaurant is well worth a visit.
It is worth pausing to consider these statements from Mr Davies.
6. uncountable noun [usually with poss]
Someone's worth is the value, usefulness, or importance that they are considered to have.
[formal]
He had never had a woman of her worth as a friend.
The team would have need of a driver of his worth.
7.
See for all sb is worth
8.
See for all it is worth
9.
See for what it's worth
10.
See worth your while
11. worth your weight in gold
More Synonyms of worth
worth in British English1
(wɜːθ)
adjective(governing a noun with prepositional force)
1.
worthy of; meriting or justifying
it's not worth discussing
an idea worth some thought
2.
having a value of
the book is worth 30 pounds
3. for all one is worth
4. worth one's weight in gold
noun
5.
high quality; excellence
6.
value, price
7.
the amount or quantity of something of a specified value
fifty pounds worth of petrol
Word origin
Old English weorth; related to Old Saxon, Old High German werth (German Wert), Old Norse verthr, Gothic wairths
worth in British English2
(wɜːθ)
verb
(intransitive) archaic
to happen or betide (esp in the phrase woe worth the day)
Word origin
Old English weorthan; related to Old Frisian wertha, Old Saxon, Old High German werthan (German werden), Old Norse vertha, Gothic wairthan, Latin vertere to turn
Worth in British English
(wɜːθ, French vɔrt)
noun
Charles Frederick. 1825–95, English couturier, who founded Parisian haute couture
worth in American English1
(wɜrθ)
noun
1.
material value, esp. as expressed in terms of money or some other medium of exchange
2.
that quality of a person or thing that lends importance, value, merit, etc. and that is measurable by the esteem in which the person or thing is held
3.
the amount or quantity of something that may be had for a given sum
a dollar's worth of nuts
4.
wealth; possessions; riches
preposition
5.
deserving or worthy of; meriting
not worth the effort
6.
equal in worth or value to
a book that is worth $50
7.
having wealth or possessions amounting to
a man worth half a million
Idioms:
for all one is worth
SYNONYMY NOTE: worth1, value are used interchangeably when applied to the desirability of something material asmeasured by its equivalence in money, goods, etc. [the worth or value of a used car], but, in discrimination, worth1 implies an intrinsic excellence resulting as from superior moral, cultural, or spiritualqualities, and , value suggests the excellence attributed to something with reference to its usability,importance, etc. [the true worth of a book cannot be measured by its commercial value]
Word origin
ME < OE weorth, akin to weorthian, to honor, Ger wert, worth, werden, to become < IE *wert-, to turn: see verse
worth in American English2
(wɜrθ)
verb intransitive
Archaic
to become
woe worth the day
Word origin
ME worthen < OE weorthan, to become, used as auxiliary of the pass., akin to Ger werden: see worth1
More idioms containing
worth
your two cents' worth
not worth the candle
not worth the paper it's written on
no-one worth their salt would do something
worth your weight in gold
Examples of 'worth' in a sentence
worth
It’s also worth recording some of the social media gaffes from this election.
Computing (2010)
Well worth watching to the end despite the disappointing sound.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
Sounds like a price worth paying for a bit of peace.
The Sun (2016)
It is popular and you will probably have to book a couple of days in advance but is definitely worth a visit.
The Sun (2017)
No one wants to waste time waiting for a week 's worth of rice to boil.
The Sun (2016)
There are bitcoins worth about 9 billion in circulation.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The initial pain and cost of integration may well be worth it for the longer-term benefits.
Computing (2010)
The deal is worth about $40 million.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
You have had your money 's worth from the plant and need no more of it than you have already put back.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
Those investors who applied for thousands of pounds worth will have most of their money returned.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
The stress of the job is not worth the money.
The Sun (2014)
Something else worth considering is the aesthetics of these schemes.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Most of the work in this show is of a high quality and worth seeing.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Their overseas profits are also worth less when converted back into sterling.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
The site alone is worth a visit.
Eddison, Sydney A Patchwork Garden: Unexpected Pleasures from a Country Garden (1990)
The unrest has caused millions of pounds worth of damage.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The realization that it may not be worth it to work tops the list.
Christianity Today (2000)
The right woman is worth changing for.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
So is it worth getting in nursing care at home?
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
The food will be worth the wait.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
That alone is worth the ticket price.
The Sun (2014)
Your dream job is worth a second try.
The Sun (2007)
The transatlantic journey was well worth the effort.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Something you think has only sentimental value may be worth a great deal.
The Sun (2011)
It could be a team worth watching.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
It will be a contest within the contest that is worth the money alone.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
But is a saving of 20 million in this financial year really worth the row?
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
It's probably worth half a million.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
It means you're now worth having a conversation with.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
It's definitely worth a day trip.
The Sun (2009)
In other languages
worth
British English: worth /wɜːθ/ NOUN
Someone's worth is their value, usefulness, or importance.
These highly skilled people have already proved their worth.
American English: worth
Arabic: قِيمَة
Brazilian Portuguese: valor
Chinese: 价值
Croatian: vrijednost
Czech: hodnota
Danish: værd
Dutch: waarde
European Spanish: valía importancia
Finnish: arvo
French: valeur
German: Wert
Greek: αντίτιμο
Italian: valore
Japanese: 資産
Korean: 가치
Norwegian: verdi
Polish: warty
European Portuguese: valor
Romanian: valoare
Russian: ценность
Latin American Spanish: valor precio, costo
Swedish: värde
Thai: มูลค่า
Turkish: değer
Ukrainian: гідний
Vietnamese: giá trị
All related terms of 'worth'
net worth
See net assets
Fort Worth
a city in N Texas , at the junction of the Clear and West forks of the Trinity River: aircraft works, electronics . Pop: 585 122 (2003 est)
self-worth
Self-worth is the feeling that you have good qualities and have achieved good things.
worth something
You use something to refer to a thing, situation , event, or idea , without saying exactly what it is.
stake is worth
If you have a stake in something such as a business, it matters to you, for example because you own part of it or because its success or failure will affect you.
assets are worth
The assets of a company or a person are all the things that they own.
not worth a damn
worthless
not worth a shit
useless , valueless , etc.
worth consideration
Consideration is careful thought about something.
worth every penny
If you say that something or someone is worth every penny , you mean that they are worth all the money that is spent on them.
worth one's salt
If you say , for example , that any doctor worth his or her salt would do something, you mean that any doctor who was good at his or her job or who deserved respect would do it.
worth the effort
If you say that something is worth the effort , you mean that it will justify the energy that you have spent or will spend on it.
worth your while
If an action or activity is worth someone's while , it will be helpful , useful , or enjoyable for them if they do it, even though it requires some effort .
not worth a whoop
worthless
one's money's worth
full value for the money one has paid for something
worth someone's while
worth someone's time, consideration , etc.; profitable in some way
for all it is worth
If someone does something for all it is worth , they do it as much as possible and for as long as they can get benefit from it.
for all sb is worth
If you do something for all you are worth , you do it with a lot of energy and enthusiasm .
for what it's worth
If you add for what it's worth to something that you say , you are suggesting that what you are saying or referring to may not be very valuable or helpful , especially because you do not want to appear arrogant .
not worth a cracker
worthless ; useless
not worth a crumpet
utterly worthless
not worth the candle
not worth the trouble or effort that is needed in order to succeed
your two cents' worth
your opinion about something. The British expression is your two penn'orth .
for all one is worth
to the utmost ; to the full extent of one's powers or ability
(get your) money's worth
If you get your money's worth , you get something which is worth the money that it costs or the effort you have put in.
worth one's weight in gold
extremely helpful , kind , etc
worth your weight in gold
If you say that someone or something is worth their weight in gold , you are emphasizing that they are so useful , helpful , or valuable that you feel you could not manage without them.
two cents
a person's opinion
(a game) not worth the candle
(a game) with stakes not sufficient to pay for the lights
more trouble than it is worth
If you say that someone or something is more trouble than they are worth , you mean that they cause you a lot of problems or take a lot of time and effort and you do not achieve or gain very much in return.
the game is not worth the candle
If you say that the game is not worth the candle , you mean that something is not worth the trouble or effort needed to achieve or obtain it.
not worth the paper it's written on
if a promise , agreement , or guarantee is not worth the paper it's written on, it is in fact worthless , although it appears to be official or definite
life isn't worth living/makes life worth living
If you say that life isn't worth living without something, or that something makes life worth living , you mean that you cannot enjoy life without it.
no-one worth their salt would do something
said to mean that no-one who was good at their job would consider doing a particular thing
not be worth the paper it is written on
If you say that a promise , an agreement , or a guarantee is not worth the paper it's written on , you mean that although it has been written down and seems to be official, it is in fact worthless because what has been promised will not be done.
tinker's damn
the slightest heed (esp in the phrase not give a tinker's damn or cuss )
a bird in the hand
A bird in the hand is something that you already have and do not want to risk losing by trying to get something else.
Chinese translation of 'worth'
worth
(wəːθ)
n(u)
价(價)值 (jiàzhí)
adj
to be worth £50值50英镑(鎊) (zhí wǔshí yīngbàng)
it's worth it这(這)是值得的 (zhèshì zhídé de)
how much is it worth?它值多少钱(錢)？ (tā zhí duōshǎo qián?)
400 dollars' worth of damage价(價)值400美元的损(損)失 (jiàzhí sìbǎi měiyuán de sǔnshī)
50 pence worth of apples50便士的苹(蘋)果 (wǔshí biànshì de píngguǒ)
it would be worth your while to do something about the problem花工夫处(處)理这(這)个(個)问(問)题(題)是值得的 (huā gōngfu chǔlǐ zhège wèntí shì zhídé de)
it would be (well) worth doing ... (很)值得做 ... ((hěn) zhídé zuò ... )
All related terms of 'worth'
it's worth it
这(這)是值得的 zhèshì zhídé de
to be worth £50
值50英镑(鎊) zhí wǔshí yīngbàng
worth one's salt
称(稱)职(職) chènzhí
to be worth nothing
一文不值 yī wén bù zhí
50 pence worth of apples
50便士的苹(蘋)果 wǔshí biànshì de píngguǒ
how much is it worth?
它值多少钱(錢)？ tā zhí duōshǎo qián?
it was worth every penny
那非常值得 nà fēicháng zhídé
400 dollars' worth of damage
价(價)值400美元的损(損)失 jiàzhí sìbǎi měiyuán de sǔnshī
to get your money's worth
物有所值 wù yǒu suǒ zhí
it would be worth your while to do something about the problem
花工夫处(處)理这(這)个(個)问(問)题(題)是值得的 huā gōngfu chǔlǐ zhège wèntí shì zhídé de
it would be (well) worth doing ...
(很)值得做 ... (hěn) zhídé zuò ...
1 (noun)
Definition
monetary value
Buyers are usually prepared to spend about 1 per cent of their total worth on art.
Synonyms
value
The value of his investment has risen by more than 100%.
price
a sharp increase in the price of petrol
What's the price on that one?
rate
cost
The cost of a loaf of bread has increased five-fold.
estimate
This figure is five times the original estimate.
valuation
The valuations reflect what a property is worth now.
Opposites
worthlessness
2 (noun)
Definition
high quality
Her boss did not appreciate her true worth until she quit.
Synonyms
merit
Box-office success mattered more than artistic merit.
value
quality
a college of quality
importance
Safety is of paramount importance.
desert(s)
virtue
His mother was held up to the family as a paragon of virtue.
excellence
a school once noted for its academic excellence
goodness
her total belief in the goodness of the human spirit
estimation
worthiness
Opposites
wretchedness
,
unworthiness
3 (noun)
Definition
high quality
The client has little means of judging the worth of the advice he is given.
Synonyms
usefulness
His interest lay in the usefulness of his work.
value
Studies are needed to see if these therapies have any value.
benefit
quality
importance
utility
He inwardly questioned the utility of his work.
excellence
goodness
Opposites
futility
,
insignificance
,
triviality
,
uselessness
,
worthlessness
,
paltriness
Additional synonyms
in the sense of cost
Definition
the amount of money, time, or energy required to obtain or produce something
The cost of a loaf of bread has increased five-fold.
Synonyms
price,
worth,
expense,
rate,
charge,
figure,
damage (informal),
amount,
payment,
expenditure,
outlay
in the sense of estimate
Definition
an approximate calculation
This figure is five times the original estimate.
Synonyms
approximate calculation,
guess,
reckoning,
assessment,
judgment,
evaluation,
valuation,
appraisal,
educated guess,
guesstimate (informal),
rough calculation,
ballpark figure (informal),
approximate cost,
approximate price,
appraisement
in the sense of excellence
Definition
the quality of being exceptionally good
a school once noted for its academic excellence
Synonyms
high quality,
worth,
merit,
distinction,
virtue,
goodness,
perfection,
superiority,
purity,
greatness,
supremacy,
eminence,
virtuosity,
transcendence,
pre-eminence,
fineness
Synonyms of 'worth'
worth
Explore 'worth' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of goodness
Definition
the quality of being good
her total belief in the goodness of the human spirit
Synonyms
excellence,
value,
quality,
worth,
merit,
superiority
in the sense of importance
Safety is of paramount importance.
Synonyms
significance,
interest,
concern,
matter,
moment,
value,
worth,
weight,
import (formal),
consequence,
substance,
relevance,
usefulness,
momentousness
in the sense of price
Definition
the amount of money for which a thing is bought or sold
a sharp increase in the price of petrolWhat's the price on that one?
Synonyms
cost,
value,
rate,
charge,
bill,
figure,
worth,
damage (informal),
amount,
estimate,
fee,
payment,
expense,
assessment,
expenditure,
valuation,
face value,
outlay,
asking price
in the sense of quality
Definition
degree or standard of excellence
a college of quality
Synonyms
excellence,
status,
merit,
position,
value,
worth,
distinction,
virtue,
superiority,
calibre,
eminence,
pre-eminence
in the sense of rate
Synonyms
grade,
rating,
class,
position,
value,
quality,
worth,
degree (archaic),
rank,
status,
classification
in the sense of utility
Definition
usefulness
He inwardly questioned the utility of his work.
Synonyms
usefulness,
use,
point,
benefit,
service,
profit,
fitness,
convenience,
mileage (informal),
avail,
practicality,
efficacy,
advantageousness,
serviceableness
in the sense of valuation
Definition
the price arrived at by the process of valuing
The valuations reflect what a property is worth now.
Synonyms
costing,
price,
estimate,
value,
evaluation,
quotation
in the sense of virtue
Definition
moral goodness
His mother was held up to the family as a paragon of virtue.