worthy

The word “worthy” means deserving respect, effort, or attention. In plain terms, deserving of something — respect, attention, or an honour.

“Worthy” is pronounced WUR-thee (/ˈwɝði/ in IPA).

Here is “worthy” used in a sentence: “It's a worthy cause that deserves more funding.”

Depending on how it is used, “worthy” can be an adjective and a noun.

The word “worthy” comes from Old English. From Old English weorþig, built on worth plus the adjective suffix "-y.".

“Worthy” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.

“Worthy” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: deserving respect, effort, or attention.

"Worthy" means deserving respect, effort, or attention and often describes people or causes, as in "a worthy winner." "Worthwhile" specifically means worth the time, money, or effort spent, as in "a worthwhile trip." The two overlap, but "worthwhile" focuses on effort being repaid.

"Worthy" is usually followed by "of," as in "worthy of praise" or "worthy of attention," meaning deserving that thing. It can also appear directly before a noun, as in "a worthy cause."

As a noun, a "worthy" is a person of great distinction or standing, and the term is often used humorously or slightly ironically, as in "local worthies." It usually appears in the plural to describe notable or self-important members of a community.

Both mean meriting something good, but "worthy" often stresses inherent value or respectability, as in "a worthy opponent," while "deserving" emphasises having earned something through actions or need, as in "a deserving cause." They are frequently interchangeable.