value
noun · verb
Simple meaning
The amount that is considered to be a fair equivalent for something else.
Pronunciation
Say it like this:
valyooSay the bold part a little louder.
IPA pronunciation (US)
ˈvælju
This word is pronounced essentially the same in American and British English, so one transcription covers both.
IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) is a standard way of writing speech sounds.
Definition
Everyday modern meanings first, grouped by part of speech.
noun
The quality (positive or negative) that renders something desirable or valuable
“The Shakespearean Shylock is of dubious value in the modern world.”
The amount (of money or goods or services) that is considered to be a fair equivalent for something else
“He tried to estimate the value of the produce at normal prices.”
uncountable
The degree of importance given to something.
often plural
That which is valued or highly esteemed, such as one's morals, morality, or belief system.
in the plural
The valuable ingredients to be obtained by treating a mass or compound; specifically, the precious metals contained in rock, gravel, etc.
Precise meaning; import.
verb
To regard highly; think much of; place importance upon.
To hold dear; to cherish.
To determine or estimate the value of; to judge the worth of.
Fix or determine the value of; assign a value to
Word at a Glance
- Difficulty
- A1 · Beginner (estimated)
- Frequency
- Very Common
- Typical Use
- General English
Word Aura™
How this word commonly comes across.
Aura for this meaning
This meaning: The quality (positive or negative) that renders something desirable or valuable
Used this way, value is a common word with a mildly favourable edge. It usually sounds natural in a wide range of settings.
“The Shakespearean Shylock is of dubious value in the modern world.”
- Emotional tone
- Slightly positive
- Formality
- Neutral
- Intensity
- Moderate
- How common
- Common
- Connotation
- Positive and appreciative
- Usage feel
- Neutral and straightforward
Usage note
It most often appears in the pattern “value in …”, which is worth copying when you use it.
Natural pattern: value in …
Word Aura describes common impressions, not a measurement. Tone changes with sentence, speaker, relationship and situation.
How It’s Used
The word’s distinct uses, one example each.
Positivenoun
“The Shakespearean Shylock is of dubious value in the modern world.”
Amount (of money or goods or services)noun
“He tried to estimate the value of the produce at normal prices.”
More ways to use value
- “The Shakespearean Shylock is of dubious value in the modern world.”noun
- “He tried to estimate the value of the produce at normal prices.”noun
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Common Patterns and Combinations
How this word naturally appears with others.
Word Family
Related forms, grouped by how they connect.
Inflected forms
Grammatical variations of the same word.
Beliefs of a person or social group in which they have an emotional investment (either for or against something).
Word family
Words built from the same root.
An appraisal of the value of something.
Having great material or monetary value especially for use or exchange.
Compound terms
Established multiword terms.
An assessment that reveals more about the values of the person making the assessment than about the reality of what is assessed.
An assessment that reveals more about the values of the person making the assessment than about the reality of what is assessed.
The principles of right and wrong that are accepted by an individual or a social group.
A statement of the desirability of something.
The principles of right and wrong that are accepted by an individual or a social group.
A tax levied on the difference between a commodity's price before taxes and its cost of production.
Related words
Connected by subject or meaning, not by word formation.
A reserve fund created by a charge against profits in order to provide for changes in the value of a company's assets.
A reserve fund created by a charge against profits in order to provide for changes in the value of a company's assets.
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Dictionary data from Wiktionary via the Free Dictionary API. Simple meanings, combinations and word intelligence are built from verified reference data, no AI is used to load this page.