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

• meritorious
• good

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

All are worthy, but the 69-year-old Brewery Bar II shows many of them up with its face-meltingly hot variety of the traditional stew, available in cups, bowls, take-out containers and atop Mexican dishes and combos — including its unbeatable crispy rellenos. —John Wenzel, Denver Post, 13 Aug. 2025

The Most Beautiful Places in Arizona Poll 2025 launched on July 15 with 10 gorgeously worthy contenders going head to head in a reader poll to determine the most stunning Arizona view everyone should see at least once. —Michael Salerno, AZCentral.com, 2 Aug. 2025

Noun

Jacobs-Jenkins cannot help noting that among that generation of Bible-quoting civil rights worthies are enough sins of the father to burden a host of sons. —Jesse Green, New York Times, 18 Mar. 2025

Martin Luther King, Senator J. William Fulbright, and California Gov. Pat Brown all said so and who would know better than these worthies? —Walter E Block, Orange County Register, 13 Feb. 2025

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

Rhymes for worthy

• worthy
• blameworthy
• newsworthy
• noteworthy
• praiseworthy
• trustworthy
• unworthy
• creditworthy
• untrustworthy

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