worthy

1 of 3

adjective

wor·​thy ˈwər-t͟hē 

worthier; worthiest

1

a

: having worth or value : estimable

a worthy cause

b

: honorable, meritorious

worthy candidates

2

: having sufficient worth or importance

worthy to be remembered

worthily

ˈwər-t͟hə-lē 

adverb

worthiness

ˈwər-t͟hē-nəs 

noun

worthy

2 of 3

noun

plural worthies

: a worthy or prominent person

-worthy

3 of 3

adjective combining form

1

: fit or safe for

a seaworthy vessel

2

: of sufficient worth for

a newsworthy event

Synonyms

Adjective

• deserving
• good
• meritorious

Examples of worthy in a Sentence

Adjective

Your donations will be going to a worthy cause.

I consider him a worthy opponent.

She is a worthy successor to the mayor.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

But if, say, a very popular ice cream vendor has gone on to open their own place (as was the case with Wanderlust Creamery), Brooks might initiate a weeks-long event such as Ice Cream Alley in part to find a worthy successor (enter Moom Ma’am). —Jamie Feldmar, Los Angeles Times, 9 June 2024

Google Glass and Magic Leap were both among the biggest technology flops of the past decade — but could their underlying ideas power something worthy and new? —Sean Hollister, The Verge, 30 May 2024

Noun

Ranged about him is a sculpted gallery of Communism’s great dictators, many of whom, like Lenin, had to be hoisted gasping out of the mud, along with a sprinkling of other worthies. —Christopher Helman, Forbes, 19 Apr. 2023

And again, the Wednesday dance is time-capsule worthy. —Andy Hoglund, EW.com, 12 Mar. 2023

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing worthy

• worthy of
• worthy of belief

Kids Definition

worthy

1 of 2 adjective

wor·​thy ˈwər-t͟hē 

worthier; worthiest

1

a

: having worth or value

a worthy cause

b

: honorable sense 1

worthy candidates

2

: having enough value or excellence

a student worthy of the prize

worthily

-t͟hə-lē 

adverb

worthiness

-thē-nəs 

noun

worthy

2 of 2 noun

plural worthies

: a worthy person