worthy
B2Formal to neutral. Common in written English, literature, journalism, and formal speech. Less common in casual conversation, where "deserving" or "good enough" might be used.
Definition
Meaning
Deserving respect, admiration, or attention due to possessing positive qualities or merit.
Suitable, appropriate, or adequate for a particular purpose or person; having sufficient value or importance.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Implies a judgement of value or merit. Often carries a formal or slightly archaic tone, especially in the construction "a worthy cause." Can be used ironically to imply something is overly earnest or self-important ("a worthy but dull film").
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is very similar. "Worthy" may be slightly more frequent in British English in formal or ecclesiastical contexts (e.g., "the Right Worthy Knight"). The ironic/sarcastic use (e.g., "worthy but boring") is common in both varieties.
Connotations
In both, it strongly connotes merit, but can also subtly imply something is dutiful rather than exciting. The phrase "worthy of note" is more formal in AmE.
Frequency
Comparatively low-frequency adjective in both. More common in written than spoken registers.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
be worthy of + noun (respect, praise, attention)be worthy to + infinitive (be considered, be called)worthy + noun (a worthy cause)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “a worthy cause”
- “worthy of note”
- “a worthy adversary”
- “to prove oneself worthy”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used to describe investments, candidates, or projects deemed deserving of resources (e.g., 'a worthy investment').
Academic
Common in critiques and analyses to judge the merit of a theory, work, or effort (e.g., 'a worthy subject of study').
Everyday
Less frequent. Used for people/actions deemed especially good or deserving (e.g., 'She's a worthy winner').
Technical
Rare. Might appear in philosophical or ethical discussions about value.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- (Rare/archaic as verb) 'It worthies little comment.'
American English
- (Rare/archaic as verb) Not typically used.
adverb
British English
- (Rare/obsolete) 'She performed worthily of her reputation.'
American English
- (Rare/obsolete) Not in common use; 'deservedly' is preferred.
adjective
British English
- The local charity is a truly worthy cause.
- He proved himself a worthy successor to the former manager.
American English
- She is a worthy recipient of the scholarship.
- The team faced a worthy adversary in the finals.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- She is a good and worthy person.
- Helping others is a worthy thing to do.
- The film was worthy but not very exciting.
- He is a worthy champion.
- Several worthy candidates applied for the position.
- The issue is certainly worthy of further discussion.
- Their research, while worthy in intent, lacked methodological rigour.
- The critic argued that the novel was not worthy of the accolades it had received.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'WORTH-Y.' If something has WORTH, it might be WORTH-Y (deserving).
Conceptual Metaphor
WORTH IS A CONTAINER OF VALUE; A WORTHY PERSON/THING IS FULL OF THIS VALUE.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'ценный' (valuable) which focuses on monetary or practical value. 'Worthy' is 'достойный,' focusing on merit and desert. 'Worth' (n.) is 'ценность,' 'стоимость.'
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect: 'He is worthy for this prize.' Correct: 'He is worthy of this prize.'
- Incorrect: 'It is a worthy to visit museum.' Correct: 'It is a museum worthy of a visit' or 'It is worthy to visit.'
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following sentences uses 'worthy' INCORRECTLY?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Worth' is primarily a noun or preposition ('£50 worth', 'worth seeing'), denoting value. 'Worthy' is an adjective meaning 'deserving' ('a worthy winner').
Yes, it can be used ironically or pejoratively to describe something that is well-intentioned but dull, pretentious, or self-righteously boring (e.g., 'a worthy, plodding documentary').
The preposition 'of' (e.g., 'worthy of respect', 'worthy of mention').
They are close. 'Worthwhile' means 'worth the time, money, or effort spent.' 'Worthy' means 'deserving.' A 'worthy cause' deserves support; a 'worthwhile project' is good to invest time in. They often overlap but are not identical.