invaluable = valuable?

Many people find it confusing that the in- prefix at the beginning of invaluable apparently lacks the meaning "not" found in a number of other words, such as invalid, inarticulate, and insane. In fact, the prefix does indicate negation, but in a way that is not immediately obvious. The original (and current) meaning of invaluable is "valuable beyond estimation"; the word describes something so precious that one cannot assign a price to it. This, clearly, is the opposite of the meaning "having no value; valueless" that the word might seem to carry. Invaluable actually has been recorded in the sense "without value," but such use has been exceedingly rare and is practically nonexistent today.

Examples of valuable in a Sentence

Adjective The watch is extremely valuable. A lot of valuable advice can be found in this book. I learned a valuable lesson. He made many valuable contributions to the field of science. The volunteers provide a valuable service to the community. She is a valuable member of the staff. Clean air is a valuable natural resource that needs to be protected. Please don't waste my time. My time is very valuable. See More

Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective The price of Ether, the second-most-valuable cryptocurrency, has dropped about 25 percent just since early April, to under $2,300. — New York Times, 11 May 2022 That’s what makes Caesars Sportsbook’s $1,100 risk-free first bet promo for new users incredibly valuable. — Xl Media, cleveland, 7 May 2022 Overall, when thinking about content, your focus should be on generating high-quality pieces that touch upon three key points; make sure the content is interesting, engaging and valuable. — Jenna Guarneri, Forbes, 6 May 2022 The company also warns not to use these hangers for valuable or irreplaceable items or to hang artwork over a bed, which implies some chance the pieces won’t stay up. — Washington Post, 2 May 2022 Amy offers a valuable perspective on this, drawn from her own experience. — Jennifer Mizgata, Fortune, 29 Apr. 2022 But Rodgers and the Packers are in a good place, and that’s more valuable than any offensive weapon the team could have drafted. — Nancy Armour, USA TODAY, 29 Apr. 2022 But Continetti’s experiences have given him a valuable perspective on his subject. — Timothy Shenk, The New Republic, 12 Apr. 2022 Stepping into shoes once occupied by film actor Gregory Peck, Richard Thomas puts a new and valuable spin on the character, rendering him more fully human and therefore more relatable. — Zachary Lewis, cleveland, 28 Apr. 2022 Recent Examples on the Web: Noun People carried their valuables, and on most buses, bags and mattresses were loaded. — BostonGlobe.com, 26 Dec. 2019 The mattress and sock drawer aren’t secure places for your cash and federal documents, because neither will protect your valuables from break-ins, fires, or flooding. — Popular Science, 11 Mar. 2020 Protect your valuables with this Pelican case—a rugged water-, dirt-, and dustproof coffin that holds an oversize smartphone, USB cord, keys, and more. — The Editors, Field & Stream, 26 Feb. 2020 Inside, the bag is spacious, and comes with all sorts of traveler bonuses, from ties and clips to secure your valuables to a detachable clear wash bag for all of your toiletries. — Louis Cheslaw, Condé Nast Traveler, 21 Feb. 2020 Use a secure money belt or put your valuables in an inside pocket away out of reach. — Erica Lamberg, USA TODAY, 20 Jan. 2020 People carried their valuables, and on most buses, bags and mattresses were loaded. — BostonGlobe.com, 26 Dec. 2019 People carried their valuables, and on most buses, bags and mattresses were loaded. — Arkansas Online, 25 Dec. 2019 San Francisco police are on the hunt for a 44-year-old swindler who’s part of a citywide racket in which crooks put fake gold jewelry on victims and use sleight of hand to swipe their valuables, officials said Monday. — SFChronicle.com, 23 Dec. 2019 See More

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