valuable
gb/vˈæljubəl/ us/vˈæljubəl/
B1
English
~ 2300
Senses
0 senses
adjective
B1
property
1
Worth a lot in money or importance
Worth a lot of money or very useful.
Usage pattern:
[something] is valuable
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'valuable' with 'available', but 'valuable' means 'worth a lot' while 'available' means 'ready to be used'.
Synonyms
precious (Often emphasizes emotional value as well as monetary worth.)
|
priceless (Suggests so valuable that it cannot be given a price.)
Antonyms
worthless (Completely lacking value or usefulness.)
|
cheap (Low in price or quality.)
Collocations
valuable information
|valuable asset
|valuable resource
|valuable experience
|valuable advice
Themes
economy
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
|business
|finance
Examples
- This necklace is very valuable because it's made of gold.
- Your advice was more valuable than you realize.
- The museum has many valuable paintings from the 18th century.
- Time is a valuable resource in any project.
Learner examples
- This watch is very valuable.
- Her help was valuable to me.
- Gold is a valuable metal.
- He gave me valuable advice.
Noun
B1
entity
2
Item of high monetary value
Something that costs a lot of money and is important to keep safe.
Usage pattern:
[someone] keeps [valuables] [somewhere]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse the plural form 'valuables' with the adjective 'valuable'. As a noun, it usually appears in plural form for multiple items.
Synonyms
treasure (Often suggests great value and emotional attachment.)
Antonyms
junk (Objects of little or no value.)
Collocations
keep valuables safe
|lock away valuables
|carry valuables
Themes
daily life
|security
|daily_life
|finance
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- Please keep your valuables in the hotel safe.
- The thieves stole several valuables from the house.
- She carried her valuables in a small bag close to her body.
Learner examples
- I keep my valuables in a box.
- The police found the stolen valuables.
- Do not leave your valuables on the table.
Grammar
Dictionary form
valuable
IPA
GB/vˈæljubəl/
US/vˈæljubəl/
Syllables & stress
valu - able (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (valu)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: valuable
Noun
- Base: valuable
- Plural: valuables
Word family
Expressions
valuable asset
1/vˈæljubəl ˈæsˌɛt/
fixed phrase
Something or someone very useful or important
A person or thing that helps a lot in success or achieving goals.
Examples
- Her language skills make her a valuable asset to the team.
- A good reputation is a valuable asset in business.
valuable experience
1/vˈæljubəl ɪkspˈɪɹiəns/
fixed phrase
Useful and important experience
Experience that helps you learn and improve.
Examples
- Working abroad gave me valuable experience.
- The internship was a valuable experience for my career.
valuable information
1/vˈæljubəl ˌɪnfɔɹmˈeɪʃən/
fixed phrase
Useful and important information
Information that helps you and is important.
Examples
- The report contains valuable information about the market.
- He gave me valuable information before the interview.
valuable resource
1/vˈæljubəl ɹˈisɔɹs/
fixed phrase
An important and useful supply
Something useful that helps you do something important.
Examples
- Water is our most valuable resource.
- Teachers are a valuable resource for students.