valuable
VAL-yoobl
Valuable (adj) means Worth a lot of money. Example: “The painting turned out to be far more valuable than they expected.”
adj
1
Worth a lot of money.
"The painting turned out to be far more valuable than they expected."
"The vase in the attic turned out to be extremely valuable."
"Is that ring valuable, or is it just costume jewellery?"
2
Extremely useful or important.
"Her advice was valuable during the negotiation."
"Volunteering gave me valuable experience for my future career."
"Their feedback was valuable because it showed us what to fix."
noun
1
A personal item of significant monetary worth, such as jewellery (usually plural: "valuables").
"Please lock your valuables in the hotel safe."
"Don't leave any valuables in the car overnight."
"The burglar took the television but left her other valuables untouched."
How to use valuable
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishWorth a lot — either in money or in usefulness.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
valuable lesson
valuable advice
lock up your valuables
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Word forms
- Plural
- valuables
- Comparative
- more valuable
- Superlative
- most valuable
Fill the gap
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The painting turned out to be far more _____ than they expected.
Etymology
From "value" + the adjective-forming suffix "-able".
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
worthless
nonvaluable
Related words
Rhymes for valuable
See all rhymes for valuable →Frequently asked questions
What does “valuable” mean?
The word “valuable” means worth a lot of money. In plain terms, worth a lot — either in money or in usefulness.
How do you pronounce “valuable”?
“Valuable” is pronounced VAL-yoobl (/ˈvælju(ə)bl̩/ in IPA).
How do you use “valuable” in a sentence?
Here is “valuable” used in a sentence: “The painting turned out to be far more valuable than they expected.”
What is another word for “valuable”?
Words with a similar meaning to “valuable” include estimable, worthy, worthly, prizable, treasurous and worth every penny.
What is the opposite of “valuable”?
The opposite of “valuable” — its antonyms — are worthless and nonvaluable.
What part of speech is “valuable”?
Depending on how it is used, “valuable” can be an adjective and a noun.
Is “valuable” a common word?
“Valuable” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “valuable” have?
“Valuable” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: worth a lot of money.
What is the difference between 'valuable' and 'valid'?
Though they look similar, the words are unrelated. 'Valuable' means worth a lot of money or of great worth, as in 'a valuable painting.' 'Valid' means legally or logically acceptable and sound, as in 'a valid ticket' or 'a valid argument.' One is about worth; the other is about legitimacy.
What is the difference between 'valuable' and 'invaluable'?
This pair surprises people. 'Invaluable' is not the opposite of 'valuable' — it actually means so valuable that its worth cannot be measured, in other words priceless. So 'invaluable advice' is even more precious than 'valuable advice.' The 'in-' here intensifies the meaning rather than reversing it.
Does 'valuable' only mean worth money?
No. While its core meaning is worth a lot of money, 'valuable' also describes things that are useful, important, or worthwhile in non-financial ways. 'Valuable experience' or 'valuable advice' has great usefulness rather than a price tag. Context shows whether the worth is monetary or practical.
What is the opposite of valuable?
The opposite of valuable is worthless or valueless — describing something with little or no worth, whether in money or usefulness. Words like 'cheap' or 'trivial' can also serve as opposites depending on the context, contrasting with the high worth that 'valuable' conveys.
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