1
a
—used to indicate the value of something
a ruby worth five million dollars
This painting is worth a fortune.
You should be paid what your labor is worth.
Each correct answer is worth five points.
b
: having money and possessions equal in value to (an amount)
an actor worth several million dollars
The corporation is worth billions of dollars.
2
: good, valuable, or important enough for (something) : deserving of (something)
A carefully written cover letter and resume is worth the effort.
It takes a long time to get a table at the restaurant, but the food is well worth the wait.
The movie was good, but I didn't think it was worth all the fuss/hype.
It's worth a try. = It's worth trying.
Chicago is worth a visit. I think you'll really like it.
Do you think the car is worth buying?
It is worth noting/mentioning that his father and mother are also doctors.
This book is not worth reading.
an idea well worth consideration
Going to college was worth every penny.
This contract isn't worth the paper it's written/printed on. [=this contract has no real value; this contract is not legally valid]
I promise that speaking with her will be worth your while. [=speaking with her will be a good/useful thing for you to do]
I had to sacrifice all of my free time to make this film, but in the end, it was all worth it.
The repairs cost a lot of money, but they were worth it.
It's not worth fixing the car. = It's not worth it to fix the car. = The car is not worth fixing.
1
: an amount of something that has a specified value, that lasts for a specified length of time, etc.
—+ of
He bought 40 dollars' worth of gas. [=an amount of gas that costs 40 dollars]
We carried a week's worth of food [=an amount of food that will last for a week] on the hike.
She has 15 years' worth of experience in advertising. [=she has worked in advertising for 15 years]
30 pounds' worth of rice [=an amount of rice weighing 30 pounds]
She wrote a whole album's worth of songs. [=she wrote enough songs to make an album]
A whole day's worth of work was erased when I deleted the file.
2
: the amount of money that something is worth : value
A diamond's worth is determined partly by its cut and clarity.
The worth of the stocks has increased.
The furniture was of little worth since it was in such bad condition.
His personal worth is estimated at five million dollars. [=all of his money and possessions are worth about five million dollars]
3
: usefulness or importance : value
The painting is of little artistic worth. = The painting has little artistic worth. [=merit]
He has proved his worth to the team.
The book has proved its worth by saving me hundreds of dollars.
Cite this Entry
“Worth.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/worth. Accessed 8 Apr. 2026.
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