worth
worth — adjective
1. having a particular price or cash value — used to say how much money you would n
having a particular price or cash value — used to say how much money you would need to pay to buy something, or how much something could be sold for.
The old painting that Hana found in the attic is worth over eight thousand dollars.
be worth + amount of money
Marco asked the jeweller how much his grandmother's diamond ring was worth.
how much something is worth
A used smartphone in good condition is usually worth about half its original price.
The damaged vase was still worth a fair amount because of its age and craftsmanship.
- worthless
having no monetary value at all
文法句型
be worth + amount
用法筆記
This adjective is always used after a linking verb (be, seem, become) and is never placed before a noun. You cannot say 'a worth car' — you must say 'a car that is worth...'
常見錯誤
2. owning a specific total of money and property — used to describe how rich a pers
owning a specific total of money and property — used to describe how rich a person, family, or organisation is.
The billionaire is said to be worth over forty billion dollars after selling his company.
be worth + wealth amount
Ritu's family is worth several million, though they live quite modestly in a small town.
At just thirty years old, the tech founder was already worth more than ten million.
How much is the university endowment worth after last year's investments?
- valued at
more formal, used for organisations rather than individuals
文法句型
be worth + amount
用法筆記
Commonly used in financial reporting and discussions of net worth. Subject is typically a person, family, or organisation.
3. giving you enough benefit or satisfaction for the price you paid — used when som
giving you enough benefit or satisfaction for the price you paid — used when something is reasonably priced or a good deal.
The restaurant's lunch menu is only twelve dollars and is definitely worth the money.
worth the money
Kenji bought a used bicycle for fifty dollars and felt it was well worth the price.
well worth the price
These running shoes cost more than the others, but they are worth every penny because they last twice as long.
The guided tour was a bit expensive, though Noor decided it was worth it for the amazing views.
- a bargain
stronger — suggests the price is surprisingly low
- good value
common in British English, used as a noun phrase
- overpriced
costing more than it is worth
- not worth it
the opposite judgement
文法句型
be worth + determiner + money noun
用法筆記
Often used in the fixed phrase 'worth it' (informal) and 'well worth' to add emphasis. The 'it' in 'worth it' refers to the thing being evaluated.
常見錯誤
4. providing enough enjoyment, advantage, or reward to make the time, effort, risk,
providing enough enjoyment, advantage, or reward to make the time, effort, risk, or difficulty seem acceptable — used when the outcome justifies the cost or hard work involved.
Climbing the mountain took six hours, but the sunrise from the top was worth the effort.
be worth + noun phrase
Ayesha wondered if the long flight would be worth the trouble just for a weekend trip.
The wait at the clinic was over an hour, though the doctor's careful explanation made it worth the wait.
Dylan trained every day for months, and crossing the finish line made all the pain worth it.
Reopening the investigation is worth considering, given the new evidence that has come to light.
- rewarding
focuses on the positive outcome; slightly more formal
- worthwhile
can go before a noun (a worthwhile experience)
文法句型
be worth + gerund/-ing form
be worth + noun phrase (effort, wait, risk)
用法筆記
Subject is typically an activity, experience, or outcome. The gerund pattern ('worth doing') is especially common. The pronoun 'it' in 'worth it' refers to the effort, risk, or cost already mentioned.
常見錯誤
5. important, interesting, or good enough to deserve a particular type of attention
important, interesting, or good enough to deserve a particular type of attention or treatment — for example, being worth noticing, mentioning, or saving.
One detail in the report is worth highlighting: sales have doubled in the past year.
worth + gerund (passive meaning: worth being highlighted)
Eitan thought the small museum was not worth visiting, since most exhibits had no English labels.
The director said the young actress's performance was worth noting for its emotional depth.
Several old buildings in the neighbourhood are worth preserving, according to the local history group.
- deserving of
more formal, followed by a noun phrase (deserving of attention)
- meriting
formal, used in academic writing
- unworthy of
not deserving of attention or treatment
文法句型
be worth + gerund/-ing form (passive meaning)
用法筆記
In this pattern, the gerund has a passive meaning: 'worth mentioning' = 'worth being mentioned' or 'deserves to be mentioned'. The subject is the thing that receives the action, not the doer.
6. useful, beneficial, or interesting enough to justify doing, having, or experienc
useful, beneficial, or interesting enough to justify doing, having, or experiencing — used to recommend an activity, place, or thing as a good use of time or resources.
The national park is free to enter and well worth a visit if you are driving through the area.
worth + noun phrase (a visit / a look / a try)
Christopher picked up a book about local history and found it was worth a read during the long train ride.
Dewi said the new coffee shop near the station is worth a try, especially for their matcha latte.
The proposal is worth serious consideration, even though it will require significant funding.
- worthwhile
can be used attributively (a worthwhile investment)
- beneficial
focuses on the positive outcome rather than the evaluation
文法句型
be worth + noun phrase (a visit, a look, a try, consideration)
用法筆記
Unlike sense 4 and 5, this sense is followed by a noun phrase describing the action itself (a visit, a try, a look), rather than a gerund. Distinguish from sense 4 (effort/reward balance) and sense 5 (deserving of action).
worth — noun
1. the price or financial value of something — how much money it could be sold for
the price or financial value of something — how much money it could be sold for in a normal transaction.
The insurance company estimated the worth of the jewellery collection at roughly two hundred thousand dollars.
the worth of something + estimated amount
Kwame was curious about the worth of the old stamps he had inherited from his grandfather.
The worth of the land has increased ten times since the new train station was built nearby.
A painting by that artist can change hands for far more than its original worth at auction.
文法句型
the worth of something
something's worth
用法筆記
Often used in financial and legal contexts. 'Net worth' is a fixed phrase referring to total assets minus liabilities. 'Worth' is uncountable — you cannot say 'a worth' or 'worths'.
常見錯誤
2. the quantity of something that a specified amount of money can buy — used to sho
the quantity of something that a specified amount of money can buy — used to show the relationship between cost and amount.
Devika grabbed ten dollars worth of snacks from the convenience store before the movie started.
amount + worth of + noun
The charity received a shipment of five thousand dollars worth of medical supplies from overseas donors.
Iris filled her basket with about thirty dollars worth of fresh vegetables at the farmers' market.
The thieves stole over a million dollars worth of electronics from the warehouse last night.
- value
can be used in the same pattern (ten dollars' value of goods)
文法句型
amount + worth of + noun
用法筆記
Used in the pattern '[amount] + worth + of + [item]'. The amount can be a sum of money, or less commonly a measurement of time or quantity.
3. the quality that makes someone or something important, useful, or admired — thei
the quality that makes someone or something important, useful, or admired — their real value beyond money.
Vikram proved his worth to the team by volunteering for the most difficult assignments without complaint.
prove one's worth
The worth of a good education goes far beyond the salary you can earn afterwards.
The community finally recognised the worth of the elderly librarian, who had quietly helped generations of students.
Hana felt the worth of her volunteer work was measured by the smiles of the children she taught.
- value
broader, can be both monetary and moral
- merit
stronger focus on deserving praise or reward
- significance
emphasises importance or meaning rather than usefulness
- worthlessness
complete lack of value or usefulness
文法句型
the worth of someone/something
用法筆記
Often used in phrases about personal contribution ('show one's worth', 'prove one's worth') or in discussions of intangible value. Unlike sense 1, this sense cannot be measured in dollars.
4. a quantity of something sufficient for a given period — used to describe how muc
a quantity of something sufficient for a given period — used to describe how much of something is needed to last through a certain number of days, weeks, or months.
The hikers packed three days worth of food and water for the trek through the desert.
time period + worth of + noun
Rin downloaded a whole week worth of podcasts to listen to during the long bus journey.
The hospital stored a month worth of emergency supplies in case the roads became impassable during the rainy season.
The professor assigned at least six months worth of reading for the seminar, which overwhelmed the students.
- supply
more general; does not tie the quantity to a time period specifically
文法句型
time period + worth of + noun
用法筆記
Less common than senses 1-3. The pattern is '[quantity of time] + worth + of + [something]'. Can overlap with sense 2 when time and money are related (e.g., 'an hour's worth of work').
worth — preposition
1. equal in financial value to a specified amount — used to state the exchange rate
equal in financial value to a specified amount — used to state the exchange rate or equivalence between one currency, commodity, or item and another.
One British pound is currently worth about one dollar and thirty cents in US currency.
worth + currency equivalence
One gold coin at the time was worth roughly the same as a farm worker's monthly salary.
Each token in the game is worth five points, so players need to collect at least twenty to win.
During the sale, every coupon is worth an extra ten percent off the already reduced price.
- equivalent to
more formal, used in official exchange rate contexts
文法句型
worth + amount/noun
用法筆記
This prepositional use overlaps with the adjective sense 1 (MONETARY VALUE). The difference is grammatical: as a preposition, 'worth' introduces a noun phrase that specifies the value, forming a prepositional phrase that can modify a noun ('a coupon worth $10') — whereas the adjective use always requires a linking verb.
2. having assets, income, or property that add up to a particular total — used in f
having assets, income, or property that add up to a particular total — used in financial profiles to report net worth or valuation.
The company's founder is worth an estimated two billion dollars, mostly in technology stocks.
worth + amount + in [assets]
The royal family of that small nation is worth several hundred million, including land and historic buildings.
According to the annual report, the pension fund is worth over fifty billion in total assets.
The university's endowment is worth nearly three billion dollars, making it one of the wealthiest educational institutions.
- valued at
more passive construction, often used in official documents
文法句型
worth + amount + in assets
用法筆記
Formal register, used primarily in business and financial reporting. Distinguish from adjective sense 2 (HAVING WEALTH) which is more conversational. This prepositional use typically appears with 'in' to specify the type of assets.
3. deserving of a particular quality, treatment, or response — used to say that som
deserving of a particular quality, treatment, or response — used to say that something merits a certain kind of attention, reaction, or effort.
The proposal is worth serious consideration because it addresses a problem that affects thousands of families.
worth + noun (consideration, attention, notice)
Mark said the documentary about ocean pollution was worth everyone's attention, not just scientists.
A problem of this scale is worth the full resources of the government, in the mayor's view.
The old factory building is worth a closer look, since its structure could be reused for affordable housing.
- deserving of
more formal; takes the same noun phrase structure
- unworthy of
formal negation
文法句型
worth + noun (attention, effort, consideration)
用法筆記
Distinguish from adjective sense 5 (WORTHY OF), which takes a gerund ('worth mentioning'), and adjective sense 6 (WORTHWHILE), which takes a noun for an activity ('worth a visit'). This prepositional sense takes a noun for an abstract quality ('worth attention,' 'worth consideration').
worth — verb
1. to happen or come to pass; to befall — an archaic verb only found in fixed liter
to happen or come to pass; to befall — an archaic verb only found in fixed literary expressions, most famously in the phrase 'woe worth the day' meaning 'woe befall the day' or 'cursed be the day.'
"Woe worth the day!" cried the king, collapsing into the chair as the messenger delivered the terrible news.
archaic construction: 'woe worth [noun]' = 'woe befall [noun]'
In old ballads, a storyteller might lament "woe worth the hour" when describing a tragic twist of fate.
"Woe worth the hunt," muttered the falconer, watching his best bird fly away into the mist.
A line from a medieval poem reads "woe worth the ship that brought me to this shore," expressing deep regret.
- befall
archaic, similar construction in old literature
文法句型
worth + complement (archaic clause)
用法筆記
This verb is completely obsolete in modern English except in the set phrase 'woe worth the day/time/hour', which appears in historical literature, poetry, and period dramas. Do NOT use this in modern speech or writing. The modern sense of 'worth' as a verb does not exist — all other uses are adjective, preposition, or noun.