Worth

/wə:θ/
Học thuật
Thân thiện
Definition
  1. Adjective (used after a verb like 'be', 'seem', 'become'):

    • Having a specified monetary or material value: Describing something that can be exchanged for or is valued at a particular amount of money.
    • Good or important enough to justify a particular action or feeling: Deserving of a specific treatment, effort, or reaction because of its qualities.
  2. Noun:

    • The level of usefulness or importance of something or someone: The quality that makes a person or thing valuable, desirable, or useful.
    • A specific amount of a commodity that can be bought for a stated sum of money: An indefinite quantity of something purchasable for a particular price.
    • (Capitalized, proper noun): A person's name, specifically Charles Frederick Worth, a famous fashion designer.
Examples of Usage
  • Adjective:

    • This painting is worth a fortune. (It has a very high monetary value.)
    • The museum is worth a visit. (It is good enough to justify the action of visiting.)
    • Is this old computer worth repairing? (Does it have enough value to justify the cost/effort of repair?)
  • Noun:

    • She proved her worth to the team with her dedication. (She demonstrated her value.)
    • He bought fifty dollars' worth of groceries. (He bought an amount of groceries costing fifty dollars.)
    • Charles Frederick Worth revolutionized fashion. (Referring to the person.)
Advanced Usage
  • "For all one is worth": With as much effort or energy as one can possibly give.
    • He ran for all he was worth to catch the bus.
  • "For what it's worth": Said when giving an opinion or piece of information that one is not certain is important or helpful.
    • For what it's worth, I think you made the right decision.
  • "Worth one's salt": Deserving the pay or respect one gets; competent and good at one's job. (Often used in negative constructions: "not worth his/her salt").
    • Any teacher worth their salt would explain this concept clearly.
Variants and Related Words
  • Worthless (adj): Having no real value or use.
    • The broken phone is now worthless.
  • Worthy (adj): Deserving effort, attention, or respect. (Note: 'Worthy' is often followed by 'of' + noun/gerund, while 'worth' is followed directly by a noun or gerund).
    • A cause worthy of support. (Compare: A cause worth supporting.)
  • Net worth (n): The total value of a person's or company's assets minus their liabilities.
Synonyms
  • Adjective: Equivalent in value to, deserving of, meriting.
  • Noun: Value, merit, usefulness, importance.
Related Phrases
  • "Get your money's worth": To receive good value for the money you have spent.
    • We ate so much at the buffet to get our money's worth.
  • "Worth its weight in gold": Extremely useful or valuable.
    • A reliable assistant is worth their weight in gold.
Idioms
  • "A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush": It is better to be content with what you have than to risk losing everything by trying to get more.
  • "Not worth the paper it's printed on": (Of a document, promise, etc.) Having no value or validity.
    • That guarantee is worth less than the paper it's printed on.
Adjective
  1. having a specified value
    • not worth his salt
    • worth her weight in gold
  2. worthy of being treated in a particular way
    • an idea worth considering
    • the deserving poor (often used ironically)
Noun
  1. French couturier (born in England) regarded as the founder of Parisian haute couture; noted for introducing the bustle (1825-1895)
  2. the quality that renders something desirable or valuable or useful
  3. an indefinite quantity of something having a specified value
    • 10 dollars worth of gasoline