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

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

The Washington Capitals re-signed forward Liam O'Brien to a one-year, two-way contract, with an average annual value of $650,000. — baltimoresun.com, "Digest (July 13): Wayne Rooney making D.C. United debut at new stadium," 13 July 2018 The robbers took diamond and pearl necklaces, bracelets and rings, with a retail value of $1.5 million. — Pauline Repard, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Robber gets 15 years for $1.5M jewel theft, assault in University Town Center," 12 July 2018 Activists spent $40 billion targeting 136 companies with market values of more than $500 million in the first half, according to a study released Thursday by Lazard. — Cara Lombardo, WSJ, "Activist Investors Turn Up Heat in Drive for Returns," 12 July 2018 While blockchain is traditionally used in the creation of cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin and Ethereum, the technology can also securely create, store, and track ownership of digital assets with real value. — Carson Kessler, Fortune, "CryptoKitties Mobile App to Debut on HTC's Flagship Phone," 11 July 2018 Medical marijuana comes to Ohio Since 1970, the federal government has listed marijuana as a Schedule I drug with no therapeutic value although Chinese records from 5,000 years ago record humans using marijuana as medicine. — Anne Saker, Cincinnati.com, "Cincinnati hospitals reluctantly realize that medical marijuana is coming to town," 11 July 2018 Seven items were recovered, with a total value of $108.93. — Staff Report, chicagotribune.com, "Norridge," 7 July 2018 It should be embraced as an art form regarded with the same value as a priceless painting, such as Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa. — Gail Mitchell, Billboard, "Stax Legend Al Bell on Black Music's Living Legacy and Power: 'My Life's Mission Is to Make Sure It Doesn't Die'," 6 July 2018 Though once an aid for agriculture and navigation, astronomy—the study of the heavens above—is now often seen as disconnected from life on Earth, an academic pastime with scant value for human beings. — Andrea Gawrylewski, Scientific American, "The True Point of Searching for Alien Life; the Misuse of Genetics and Other New Science Books," 3 July 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

The contract is valued at $71 million, according to the budget. — Ben Brasch, ajc, "Half of Cobb affected by water main break at plant," 2 July 2018 The new disclosure listed a home in Naples valued at slightly less than $14.1 million as of the end of 2017, down nearly $1 million from the previous year. — OrlandoSentinel.com, "Gov. Rick Scott's net worth tops $232 million," 29 June 2018 With Uber valued recently at $72 billion as part of a settlement granting equity to Alphabet Inc. — Greg Bensinger, WSJ, "Lyft’s Valuation Doubles to $15.1 Billion Over One Year in Battle With Uber," 27 June 2018 The deal, described by Wanda as strategic, was valued at $1.24 billion (7.8 billion yuan). — Patrick Brzeski, The Hollywood Reporter, "China's Wanda Plans $1.78B Consolidation of Film Assets," 26 June 2018 The Landmark Grandview complex, near The Rim, was valued at $53.5 million this year, while the Republic at Alamo Heights complex near the McNay Art Museum was assessed at $41.7 million. — Richard Webner, San Antonio Express-News, "Out-of-state investors continue buying San Antonio apartment complexes," 25 June 2018 Digital companies, in particular, are valued differently from industrial giants like GE, three business school professors argued in the Harvard Business Review. — Alexis C. Madrigal, The Atlantic, "The Meaninglessness of the Stock Market Index in a Digital World," 20 June 2018 The anti-aging market is now valued at 250 billion-dollars. — Leah Prinzivalli, Bon Appetit, "Nope, Sorry, I Won't Exercise My Face," 12 June 2018 In total, the merchandise is valued at well over $500. — Anna Hecht, CNN Underscored, "This CNN-exclusive subscription box is the Father's Day gift we all want," 30 May 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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