precious
Precious (adjective) means of great value or worth. Example: “Clean water is a precious resource in that part of the world.”
How to use precious
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSomething 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.
Don't confuse the affectionate sense (\"my precious memories\") with the critical one (\"his precious little rules\") — tone and context tell them apart.
Word forms
more precious comparative, preciouses plural, most precious superlative
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Clean water is a _____ resource in that part of the world.
Etymology
From Old French precios, from Latin pretiosus (\"costly, valuable\"), from pretium, \"price\" — the same root as \"price\" itself.
Related words
Rhymes for precious
See all rhymes for 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.
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