value

noun

val·ue | \ ˈval-(ˌ)yü

Definition of value

(Entry 1 of 2)

1 : the monetary worth of something : market price

2 : a fair return or equivalent in goods, services, or money for something exchanged

3 : relative worth, utility, or importance a good value at the price the value of base stealing in baseball had nothing of value to say

4 : something (such as a principle or quality) intrinsically valuable or desirable sought material values instead of human values— W. H. Jones

5 : a numerical quantity that is assigned or is determined by calculation or measurement let x take on positive values a value for the age of the earth

6 : the relative duration of a musical note

7a : relative lightness or darkness of a color : luminosity

b : the relation of one part in a picture to another with respect to lightness and darkness

8 : denomination sense 2

value

verb

valued; valuing

Definition of value (Entry 2 of 2)

transitive verb

1 : to consider or rate highly : prize, esteem values your opinion

2a : to estimate or assign the monetary worth of : appraise value a necklace

b : to rate or scale in usefulness, importance, or general worth : evaluate

Other Words from value Synonyms & Antonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Learn More about value

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Other Words from value

Noun

valueless \ ˈval-(ˌ)yü-ləs

, -yə- \ adjective

valuelessness noun

Verb

valuer \ ˈval-yə-wər

\ noun

Synonyms & Antonyms for value

Synonyms: Noun

valuation, worth

Synonyms: Verb

appreciate, cherish, love, prize, treasure

Antonyms: Verb

disvalue

Choose the Right Synonym for value

Verb

estimate, appraise, evaluate, value, rate, assess mean to judge something with respect to its worth or significance. estimate implies a judgment, considered or casual, that precedes or takes the place of actual measuring or counting or testing out. estimated the crowd at two hundred appraise commonly implies the fixing by an expert of the monetary worth of a thing, but it may be used of any critical judgment. having their house appraised evaluate suggests an attempt to determine relative or intrinsic worth in terms other than monetary. evaluate a student's work value equals appraise but without implying expertness of judgment. a watercolor valued by the donor at $500 rate adds to estimate the notion of placing a thing according to a scale of values. a highly rated restaurant assess implies a critical appraisal for the purpose of understanding or interpreting, or as a guide in taking action. officials are trying to assess the damage

appreciate, value, prize, treasure, cherish mean to hold in high estimation. appreciate often connotes sufficient understanding to enjoy or admire a thing's excellence. appreciates fine wine value implies rating a thing highly for its intrinsic worth. values our friendship prize implies taking a deep pride in something one possesses. Americans prize their freedom treasure emphasizes jealously safeguarding something considered precious. a treasured memento cherish implies a special love and care for something. cherishes her children above all

Examples of value in a Sentence

Noun

The company's stock continues to decline in value. Real estate prices have doubled in value over the last decade. The difference in value between the two currencies is not significant. You may exchange the item for something of equal value. We sold the home for less than its full value. an increase in the value of the dollar The home has a value of $1,000,000. Property values tend to rise as interest rates fall. The store advertises great values. No one can deny the value of a good education.

Verb

She values the time she spends with her family. The items are highly valued by collectors. The herbs are valued for their medicinal properties.

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

Consumers are also demanding products from companies that are values-based. — Eric Johnson, Recode, "Why nonprofits should think more like tech companies," 14 Nov. 2018 Tannin stains have an acidic value, and can be treated with a mix of water and vinegar. — Talia Abbas, SELF, "9 Expert Tips for Removing Food Stains From Your Clothes," 28 Sep. 2018 If the value of that collateral declines, a shareholder might face a margin call, requiring them to stump up fresh cash. — Mike Bird, WSJ, "A Major Market’s Major Headache: Stocks That Crash Without Warning," 21 Jan. 2019 Right now, advertisers rely almost entirely on download figures to determine the value of advertising on a podcast. — Ashley Carman, The Verge, "NPR wants to know what podcast ads you skip," 27 Dec. 2018 The stock closed 29% lower Friday and has now shed nearly 60% of its value so far this year. — Charley Grant, WSJ, "Perrigo Tax Shocker Couldn’t Come at Worse Time," 21 Dec. 2018 McClatchy’s decisions also come in the midst of a slump in its stock price, which has lost nearly 18 percent of its value in the past six months, compared to a 5 percent decline for the S&P 500 index over the same period. — Asia Fields, The Seattle Times, "The News Tribune publisher David Zeeck leaves amid McClatchy shakeups," 12 Dec. 2018 Even with e-commerce giants like Amazon taking over, David believes that his show — and QVC as a whole — will always have value. — Amanda Garrity, Good Housekeeping, "I Spent the Day in the Kitchen With QVC's David Venable," 20 Nov. 2018 There’s a lot of value being enjoyed from Amazon Rekognition. — Nick Statt, The Verge, "Amazon told employees it would continue to sell its controversial facial recognition software to law enforcement," 9 Nov. 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

When firefighters returned 30 minutes later, one of the firefighters noticed his backpack containing personal items valued at $450 was missing from his bunk. — Megan Jones, Aurora Beacon-News, "Man charged with stealing from Aurora fire station while crew was out on emergency call," 9 July 2018 The vernacular idiom that Hurston valued Wright and others deprecated as backward; her literary concern with romantic love was considered frivolous and even vulgar. — Emily Bernard, The New Republic, "Zora Neale Hurston’s drive to tell the story of the slave trade’s last survivor," 19 June 2018 The religion places great emphasis on the mind, valuing reflection, intellectual inquiry and self-study. — Shashi Tharoor, WSJ, "How Hinduism Has Persisted for 4,000 Years," 17 Jan. 2019 The progressive politics of Creek are Trojan horsed in the sitcom format, through its working-class characters, their relationships, and its gentle worldview, in which the people are flawed and human but ultimately good, and undeniably valued. — Bridget Read, Vogue, "How Dan Levy Made the Funniest Show on TV," 16 Jan. 2019 Some homeowners may value backup power in areas where electricity is unreliable. — Megan Geuss, Ars Technica, "Under current policies, residential batteries increase emissions in most cases," 28 Dec. 2018 Most new players, however, aren't funded by Bill Gates—still valued by Forbes to have a fortune north of $93 billion. — David Grossman, Popular Mechanics, "Bill Gates's Experimental Nuclear Power Plant Halts Construction in China," 2 Jan. 2019 Customers may give edible arrangements and gift cards for merchandise or services valued up to $20 per interaction. — Sam Dangremond, Town & Country, "The Definitive Guide to Holiday Tipping," 17 Dec. 2018 The Pisarro painting, valued at $30 million or more, has been sold and resold but has spent the last 25 years at Spain's Thyssen-Bornemisza museum. — John Rogers, The Seattle Times, "Spanish museum, California family in court over disputed art," 4 Dec. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'value.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

History and Etymology for value

Noun

Middle English, "worth, high quality," borrowed from Anglo-French, noun derivative from feminine of valu (going back to Vulgar Latin *valūtus), past participle of valer, valeir "to be worth, have value," going back to Latin valēre "to be well, have strength" — more at wield

Verb

Middle English valuen, borrowed from Anglo-French valuer "to estimate, be worth," verbal derivative of value value entry 1

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