worth

1prepositionvalue or merit

When you say something 'is worth' a certain amount, you mean that is its value — what you could exchange it for, or what it deserves. Think of it as a way of measuring whether something is good enough for the effort or cost.

everyday language · Modern, widely used

The trip was long, but it was worth every minute.

2prepositiondeserving of an action

You use 'worth' before a verb (in its -ing form) to say that doing something will give you enough benefit. It answers the question: 'Should I bother?' If something is worth doing, the answer is yes.

everyday language · Modern, widely used

This book is worth reading — you will learn a lot.

It's not worth arguing about such a small thing.

The restaurant is a bit expensive, but it's worth trying at least once.

As a noun, 'worth' means the value or importance of something or someone. You might talk about a person's worth — how capable or valuable they are — or the worth of an object or idea.

everyday language / business · Modern, widely used

She proved her worth to the team by solving the problem quickly.

4adjectivehaving a certain level of wealth

When talking about a person, 'worth' can describe how much money or assets they have. It works like an adjective here, always following the verb 'to be'.

everyday language / finance · Modern, widely used

That actor is worth over 50 million dollars.

Nobody knew she was worth so much until she donated to the charity.

5nounfigurativepersonal value or self-worth

In a more personal or emotional sense, 'worth' (or 'self-worth') refers to how valuable or important a person feels about themselves. This is a figurative use — you are not talking about money, but about dignity and confidence.

psychology / everyday language · Modern, widely used · figurative