VALUABLE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does valuable mean? 

• VALUABLE (noun)
  The noun VALUABLE has 1 sense:

1. something of value

  Familiarity information: VALUABLE used as a noun is very rare.

• VALUABLE (adjective)
  The adjective VALUABLE has 2 senses:

1. having great material or monetary value especially for use or exchange

2. having worth or merit or value

  Familiarity information: VALUABLE used as an adjective is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• VALUABLE (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Something of value

Classified under:

Nouns denoting possession and transfer of possession

Context example:

all our valuables were stolen

Hypernyms ("valuable" is a kind of...):

hoarded wealth; treasure (accumulated wealth in the form of money or jewels etc.)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "valuable"):

swag (valuable goods)

precious metal (any of the less common and valuable metals often used to make coins or jewelry)

Derivation:

valuable (having great material or monetary value especially for use or exchange)

• VALUABLE (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Having great material or monetary value especially for use or exchange

Context example:

a valuable diamond

Similar:

blue-chip (extremely valuable)

invaluable; priceless (having incalculable monetary, intellectual, or spiritual worth)

precious (of high worth or cost)

rich (of great worth or quality)

semiprecious (used of gemstones having less commercial value than precious stones)

worth (having a specified value)

Also:

expensive (high in price or charging high prices)

important; of import (of great significance or value)

worthy (having worth or merit or value; being honorable or admirable)

Antonym:

worthless (lacking in usefulness or value)

Derivation:

valuable (something of value)

valuableness (the positive quality of being precious and beyond value)

value (hold dear)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Having worth or merit or value

Synonyms:

valuable; worthful

Context example:

a good and worthful man

Similar:

worthy (having worth or merit or value; being honorable or admirable)

Derivation:

valuableness (the positive quality of being precious and beyond value)

value (regard highly; think much of)

value (hold dear)

 Context examples 

Your age and appearance make your support doubly valuable.

(The Lost World, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Thus he was on duty all the time, ever vigilant and faithful, the most valuable of all the dogs.

(White Fang, by Jack London)

These valuable pictures of yours, Sir Walter, if you chose to leave them, would be perfectly safe.

(Persuasion, by Jane Austen)

The utmost care could not always secure the most valuable fruits.

(Northanger Abbey, by Jane Austen)

Emma was not thinking of it at the moment, which made the information she received more valuable.

(Emma, by Jane Austen)

It was a valuable part of former times.

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)

And I can tell you that my life is pretty valuable just now—to myself.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

Lady Lucas was a very good kind of woman, not too clever to be a valuable neighbour to Mrs. Bennet.

(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)

Insects, bacteria and fungi play a part in making soil valuable for crop production.

(New Test Can Determine Nitrogen Levels in Soil, U.S. Department of Agriculture)

Valuable or useful or agreeable or pleasing.

(Good, NCI Thesaurus)