valuable

1 of 2

adjective

valu·​able ˈval-yə-bəl How to pronounce valuable (audio)
-yə-wə-bəl,
-yü-ə- How to pronounce valuable (audio)
1
a
: having monetary value
b
: worth a good price
2
a
: having desirable or esteemed characteristics or qualities
valuable friendships
b
: of great use or service
valuable advice
valuableness noun
valuably
ˈval-yə-blē How to pronounce valuable (audio)
-yə-wə-blē
-yü-ə-
adverb

valuable

2 of 2

noun

: a usually personal possession (such as jewelry) of relatively great monetary value
usually used in plural

Did you know?

invaluable = valuable?

Many people find it confusing that the in- prefix at the beginning of invaluable apparently lacks the meaning "not" found in a number of other words, such as invalid, inarticulate, and insane. In fact, the prefix does indicate negation, but in a way that is not immediately obvious. The original (and current) meaning of invaluable is "valuable beyond estimation"; the word describes something so precious that one cannot assign a price to it. This, clearly, is the opposite of the meaning "having no value; valueless" that the word might seem to carry. Invaluable actually has been recorded in the sense "without value," but such use has been exceedingly rare and is practically nonexistent today.

Examples of valuable in a Sentence

Adjective The watch is extremely valuable. A lot of valuable advice can be found in this book. I learned a valuable lesson. He made many valuable contributions to the field of science. The volunteers provide a valuable service to the community. She is a valuable member of the staff. Clean air is a valuable natural resource that needs to be protected. Please don't waste my time. My time is very valuable.
Recent Examples on the Web
Adjective
The agencies also have to foster genetically diverse captive pups that survive for at least two years, or successfully release genetically valuable adult wolves. Hayleigh Evans, The Arizona Republic, 5 Mar. 2024 These fast-shifting dynamics have forced owners of commercial real estate to scout for ways to make their buildings more valuable as well as keep the financing afloat. George Avalos, The Mercury News, 5 Mar. 2024 The nobles have a valuable but inaccessible royal library that has gone untouched for ages. Carole V. Bell, NPR, 5 Mar. 2024 The German sportswear giant acts as a valuable conduit to the fashion industry, helping facilitate collaborations with brands like Koché and Pleasures. Daniel-Yaw Miller, CNN, 5 Mar. 2024 With the agreements, American secures valuable production slots in a constrained market for new aircraft, with both planemakers largely sold out of single-aisle jets through the end of the decade. Mary Schlangenstein, Fortune, 4 Mar. 2024 His speed has been a valuable tool in virtually every aspect of the game. Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 4 Mar. 2024 Additionally, seeking support from friends, family, or a professional therapist can provide valuable emotional support during difficult times. Lance Eliot, Forbes, 2 Mar. 2024 There are hundreds of millions of online conversations around health struggles, and this data can be incredibly valuable to clinical researchers. Steve King, Forbes, 22 Feb. 2024
Noun
Today’s groups are... Yellow group — propel into the air Green group — place to store valuables Blue group — period Purple group — animals backward What Are Today’s Connections Answers? Spoiler alert! Kris Holt, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2024 Store your laptop in one of the two main compartments, and your valuables in the roomy center zip pocket, which also divides the bag and prevents it from being a black hole. Paula Lee, Glamour, 26 Feb. 2024 Measuring 8 inches by 5 inches, the wallet has a velcro pocket to stash your passport, two side zipper pouches to store cash and small valuables, and a clear card holder to display your driver's license. Andie Kanaras, Travel + Leisure, 29 Jan. 2024 Move furniture and valuables to a safe place, out of a basement or areas that experience flooding. Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 8 Jan. 2024 There is no need to leave your cherished items and valuables in the hands of movers who are not vetted or companies that have not been verified. Chris Gallagher, Detroit Free Press, 23 Feb. 2024 According to the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, upon returning to Ontario, Canada after their son's destination wedding in Jamaica, the parents of the groom were shocked to discover valuables missing from their luggage. Jordan Greene, Peoplemag, 23 Feb. 2024 That means valuables typically can’t be included in deliveries. Byryan Hogg, Fortune Europe, 20 Feb. 2024 Five safes containing at least seven firearms were stolen, along with a four-wheeler and other valuables. Molly Langmuir, Rolling Stone, 2 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'valuable.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

value entry 2 + -able

Noun

noun derivative of valuable entry 1

First Known Use

Adjective

circa 1576, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun

circa 1775, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of valuable was circa 1576

Dictionary Entries Near valuable

Cite this Entry

“Valuable.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/valuable. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

valuable

1 of 2 adjective
val·​u·​able
ˈval-yə(-wə)-bəl
1
: worth a large amount of money
a valuable necklace
2
: of great use or service
valuable advice
valuableness noun
valuably
-blē
adverb

valuable

2 of 2 noun
: a possession (as a jewel) of great value
usually used in plural

More from Merriam-Webster on valuable

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