worthy
WUR-thee
Worthy (adj) means deserving respect, effort, or attention. Example: “Teaching children to read is a worthy way to spend your time.”
adj
1
Deserving respect, effort, or attention.
"Teaching children to read is a worthy way to spend your time."
"It's a worthy cause that deserves more funding."
"She put up a worthy fight before losing the final."
noun
1
A person of great distinction or standing (often used humorously).
"Several worthies from the council arrived in their best coats for the photograph."
"The village fete was opened by one of the county's leading worthies."
"The town's local worthies gathered for the opening ceremony."
How to use worthy
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishDeserving of something — respect, attention, or an honour.
Common pairings
worthy cause
worthy of note
worthy opponent
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like worthy.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- worthies
- Third person singular
- worthies
- Past tense
- worthied
- Comparative
- worthier
- Superlative
- worthiest
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Teaching children to read is a _____ way to spend your time.
Etymology
From Old English weorþig, built on worth plus the adjective suffix "-y."
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for worthy
See all rhymes for worthy →Frequently asked questions
What does “worthy” mean?
The word “worthy” means deserving respect, effort, or attention. In plain terms, deserving of something — respect, attention, or an honour.
How do you pronounce “worthy”?
“Worthy” is pronounced WUR-thee (/ˈwɝði/ in IPA).
How do you use “worthy” in a sentence?
Here is “worthy” used in a sentence: “It's a worthy cause that deserves more funding.”
What part of speech is “worthy”?
Depending on how it is used, “worthy” can be an adjective and a noun.
Where does the word “worthy” come from?
The word “worthy” comes from Old English. From Old English weorþig, built on worth plus the adjective suffix "-y.".
Is “worthy” a common word?
“Worthy” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “worthy” have?
“Worthy” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: deserving respect, effort, or attention.
What is the difference between "worthy" and "worthwhile"?
"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.
What preposition follows "worthy"?
"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."
How is "worthy" used as a noun?
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.
What is the difference between "worthy" and "deserving"?
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.
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include worthy:
