precious
1 of 2adjective
pre·cious ˈpre-shəs 
1
: of great value or high price
precious jewels
2
: highly esteemed or cherished
a precious friend
3
: excessively refined : affected entry 2
precious manners
4
: great, thoroughgoing
a precious scoundrel
preciousness noun
precious
2 of 2adverb
: very, extremely
has precious little to say
Synonyms
Adjective
- big-ticket
- costly
- dear
- expensive
- extravagant
- high
- high-end
- high-ticket
- premium
- priceless
- pricey
- pricy
- spendy [chiefly Northwest]
- ultraexpensive
- valuable
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Adjective That so many of China's cleverest and most creative men and women had to sell their books and their most precious carvings and family seals to keep themselves alive, while corpulent nationalists and their friends dined well in local banquet halls, gave them some right to schadenfreude. 
Simon Winchester, The Man Who Loved China, 2008 Of course, the war pronounces on us all. Some precious glee we seek is absent, the season less substantial, less likeable. Richard Ford, Wall Street Journal, 14-15 June 2008 The world is, as usual, a frightening place to enter for all save the precious few impaired by inherited security. David Mamet, True and False, 1997 … and, though to him those precious moments at the end of each day had symbolized the realization of his every hope, to her they had meant not a goddamn thing. Philip Roth, American Pastoral, 1997 diamonds and other precious stones We can save precious time by taking this shortcut. They were able to be together for only a few precious hours. the family's most precious moments Adverb She had precious little to say. There are precious few hours of sunlight left. See More
Simon Winchester, The Man Who Loved China, 2008 Of course, the war pronounces on us all. Some precious glee we seek is absent, the season less substantial, less likeable. Richard Ford, Wall Street Journal, 14-15 June 2008 The world is, as usual, a frightening place to enter for all save the precious few impaired by inherited security. David Mamet, True and False, 1997 … and, though to him those precious moments at the end of each day had symbolized the realization of his every hope, to her they had meant not a goddamn thing. Philip Roth, American Pastoral, 1997 diamonds and other precious stones We can save precious time by taking this shortcut. They were able to be together for only a few precious hours. the family's most precious moments Adverb She had precious little to say. There are precious few hours of sunlight left. See More Recent Examples on the Web Duante Beddingfield, Detroit Free Press, 8 Sep. 2022 In addition to her precious Cornelia James gloves, Launer handbags and Barbour jackets, some brands graced with the royal warrant include Burberry, Pringle of Scotland knitwear, Hunter boots and Cartier. Rory Satran, WSJ, 8 Sep. 2022 In solitary confinement, human touch becomes as precious as water in the desert. James Burns, The New Yorker, 7 Sep. 2022 The Broncos turned those precious seconds into a field goal as the clock expired, winning as a 7.5-point underdog. Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Sep. 2022 Handmade with porcelain, these delicate little succulent earrings would look so precious on a plant lover's lobes. Corinne Sullivan, Good Housekeeping, 7 Sep. 2022 Long live the fig—and long live its precious little fig wasps. Ali Francis, Bon Appétit, 7 Sep. 2022 That leaves it with precious little room for error. Kevin Baxter, Los Angeles Times, 6 Sep. 2022 Frustrated by her own experience as a busy person giving up precious weeknights to unsuccessful dates, Forbes 30 Under 30 winner Lizz Warner founded Gleam in 2019. Emily Dreibelbis, PCMAG, 6 Sep. 2022 See More
Adjective
Labor Day is behind us, school is back in session, and the warm days of summer are dwindling down to a precious few. Duante Beddingfield, Detroit Free Press, 8 Sep. 2022 In addition to her precious Cornelia James gloves, Launer handbags and Barbour jackets, some brands graced with the royal warrant include Burberry, Pringle of Scotland knitwear, Hunter boots and Cartier. Rory Satran, WSJ, 8 Sep. 2022 In solitary confinement, human touch becomes as precious as water in the desert. James Burns, The New Yorker, 7 Sep. 2022 The Broncos turned those precious seconds into a field goal as the clock expired, winning as a 7.5-point underdog. Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Sep. 2022 Handmade with porcelain, these delicate little succulent earrings would look so precious on a plant lover's lobes. Corinne Sullivan, Good Housekeeping, 7 Sep. 2022 Long live the fig—and long live its precious little fig wasps. Ali Francis, Bon Appétit, 7 Sep. 2022 That leaves it with precious little room for error. Kevin Baxter, Los Angeles Times, 6 Sep. 2022 Frustrated by her own experience as a busy person giving up precious weeknights to unsuccessful dates, Forbes 30 Under 30 winner Lizz Warner founded Gleam in 2019. Emily Dreibelbis, PCMAG, 6 Sep. 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Adjective and Adverb
Middle English, from Anglo-French precios, from Latin pretiosus, from pretium price — more at price entry 1
First Known Use
Adjective
13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Adverb
1595, in the meaning defined above
Kids Definition
precious
adjective
pre·cious ˈpre-shəs
1
: very valuable
Diamonds and emeralds are precious stones.
2
: greatly loved or valued
a precious friend
precious memories
precious
adjective
1
as in valuable
commanding a large price diamonds and other precious stones Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- valuable
- expensive
- costly
- premium
- priceless
- extravagant
- dear
- high
- pricey
- luxurious
- pricy
- spendy
- invaluable
- high-ticket
- big-ticket
- high-end
- steep
- inestimable
- ultraexpensive
- exorbitant
- prohibitive
- overpriced
- uneconomic
- unreasonable
- unaffordable
- deluxe
- sumptuous
- uneconomical
- sky-high
- stiff
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- inexpensive
- cheap
- reasonable
- worthless
- moderate
- valueless
- discounted
2
as in cherished
granted special treatment or attention parents who refuse to hear the slightest criticism of their precious children Synonyms & Similar Words
- cherished
- beloved
- loved
- sweet
- darling
- special
- favorite
- dear
- adored
- pet
- favored
- treasured
- fond
- prized
- appreciated
- fair-haired
- white-headed
- admired
- revered
- esteemed
- relished
- preferred
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- unbeloved
- forgotten
- despised
- detested
- hated
- ignored
- disliked
- abhorred
- disdained
- abandoned
- disfavored
- unfavorite
- alienated
- execrated
- abominated
- estranged
- loathed
3
as in dear
having qualities that tend to make one loved a precious friend for whom I would do anything Synonyms & Similar Words
- dear
- adorable
- sweet
- beautiful
- lovely
- darling
- loved
- lovable
- cherished
- endearing
- beloved
- treasured
- charming
- enchanting
- loveable
- winsome
- winning
- attractive
- lovesome
- delightful
- favorite
- disarming
- desirable
- fascinating
- alluring
- admirable
- kind
- favored
- captivating
- appealing
- pleasant
- embraceable
- kissable
- cheerful
- nice
- entrancing
- fetching
- pleasing
- gracious
- engaging
- reputable
- likable
- friendly
- respectable
- agreeable
- cordial
- affable
- likeable
- good-natured
- good-tempered
- genial
- well-disposed
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- loathsome
- odious
- hateful
- unpleasant
- abominable
- wretched
- detestable
- abhorrent
- horrible
- disagreeable
- unloved
- disgusting
- offensive
- contemptible
- ugly
- lousy
- nasty
- heinous
- distasteful
- hideous
- monstrous
- grotesque
- awful
- frightful
- vile
- unlovable
- repugnant
- repulsive
- unattractive
- dreadful
- obscene
- unsightly
- obnoxious
- scandalous
- horrid
- appalling
- shocking
- repellent
- foul
- sickening
- horrendous
- revolting
- unlikable
- ill-favored
- nauseating
- noisome
- ogreish
- repellant