worthwhile

adjective

worth·​while ˈwərth-ˈ(h)wī(-ə)l 

1

: being worth the time or effort spent

worthwhile preparations

2

: worthy sense 1

a worthwhile cause

worthwhileness noun

Examples of worthwhile in a Sentence

The money is for a worthwhile cause.

Seeing my children's joy made building the tree house all worthwhile.

Is it worthwhile to try to fix my computer?

Recent Examples on the Web

The article also describes voters who blame higher prices and gas costs on the administration, while supporters characterize those costs as temporary or a worthwhile trade-off. — Los Angeles Times, 1 Nov. 2026

Some optimization problems may benefit during the late 2020s or 2030s, while others may never offer a worthwhile quantum advantage. — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 1 Nov. 2026

Facial recognition has been a major source of controversy across the globe over the past decade, with human rights campaigners highlighting privacy concerns, but the world’s biggest coffee chain may see it as a worthwhile investment. — Will McCurdy, PC Magazine, 31 Oct. 2026

The character cheerfully insisted that Scotch whisky, the Garden of Eden, and most other worthwhile inventions had originated in his homeland. — Daniel Ross Goodman, The Washington Examiner, 30 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1662, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for worthwhile

• argyle
• awhile
• beguile
• compile
• condyle
• defile
• erstwhile
• exile
• freestyle
• gentile
• hairstyle
• lifestyle

Kids Definition

worthwhile

adjective

worth·​while ˈwərth-ˈhwī(ə)l 

-ˈwī(ə)l

1

: being worth the time or effort spent

worthwhile preparations

2

: worthy sense 1a