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