Worthwhile

Definition

"Worthwhile" describes something that is worthy of one's time, effort, or interest due to its importance or value.

Parts of Speech

• Adjective
• Adverb

Pronunciation

American English

• IPA Pronunciation: /ˈwɜrθˌwaɪl/
• Respelling: WURTH-wile

British English

• IPA Pronunciation: /ˈwɜːθˌwaɪl/
• Respelling: WURTH-wile

In both American and British English, "worthwhile" is pronounced with the stress on the first syllable. The main difference lies in the vowel sound of the first syllable; the American pronunciation uses a rhotic /ɜr/ sound, while the British pronunciation uses a longer /ɜː/ sound. The second part of the word is pronounced "wile," similar to the word "while."

Etymology

The term "worthwhile" is a compound word, consisting of "worth" and "while". "Worth" comes from the Old English word "weorþ", meaning "value", and "while" originates from the Old English word "hwīl", which means "a period of time". Together, they convey the idea of "having value for the time or effort expended".

Derivatives

• Worthwhileness
• Worthwhilely
• (None beyond the above)

Synonyms

• Valuable
• Beneficial
• Rewarding

Antonyms

• Worthless
• Futile
• Insignificant

Usage

The word "worthwhile" is commonly used to express the idea that something is deserving of time, effort, or attention due to its potential benefits or value.

Related Terms

• Worth
• Value
• Merit
• Reward
• Significance

Detailed Definition

Adjective

• Deserving of time, effort, or attention because of potential value or benefits.
• Example: Volunteering at the local shelter proved to be a worthwhile experience for the students.

• Having value or merit; rewarding.
• Example: Reading that book is a worthwhile endeavor, given its insights on human psychology.

Adverb

• In a manner that merits the time or effort expended.
• Example: He worked worthwhilely, ensuring that every task he undertook added value to the project.