precious
9 synonyms and 2 antonyms for precious, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Adjective — Of great value or worth.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Antonyms
How to use precious
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
precious metal
precious memories
precious little time
Etymology
From Old French precios, from Latin pretiosus (\"costly, valuable\"), from pretium, \"price\" — the same root as \"price\" itself.
Full origin of precious →Frequently asked questions
What does “precious” mean?
The word “precious” means of great value or worth. In plain terms, something worth a lot, either in money or in emotional value — or, in a more critical sense, someone acting overly delicate or self-important about small things.
How do you pronounce “precious”?
“Precious” is pronounced PREHSH-uhs (/ˈpɹɛʃ.əs/ in IPA).
How do you use “precious” in a sentence?
Here is “precious” used in a sentence: “Clean water is a precious resource in that part of the world.”
What part of speech is “precious”?
“Precious” is an adjective.
Where does the word “precious” come from?
The word “precious” comes from Latin. From Old French precios, from Latin pretiosus (\"costly, valuable\"), from pretium, \"price\" — the same root as \"price\" itself.
Is “precious” a common word?
“Precious” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “precious” have?
“Precious” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: of great value or worth.
What is the difference between "precious" and "valuable"?
"Valuable" means worth a lot of money or highly useful. "Precious" can mean of great value or worth and also deeply loved or cherished. Something can be precious for emotional reasons even if it has little monetary value, such as a family photograph.
What is the difference between "precious" and "priceless"?
"Precious" means of great value or deeply cherished. "Priceless" is stronger, meaning so valuable that no price can be put on it. All priceless things are precious, but not everything precious is literally priceless.
