# asset

/ˈæˌsɛt/ (US) · /ˈæsɛt/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/asset
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. a useful quality or person

noun · CEFR B2

a person or quality that is useful or helps you succeed.

For teachers: a useful or valuable quality, skill, or person that provides an advantage.

- Her ability to speak three languages is a huge asset to the company.
- The manager quickly realised that the new recruit's calm temperament during a crisis was his greatest professional asset.

### 2. property or money

noun · CEFR B2

something valuable that a person or company owns, such as money, property, or land.

For teachers: an item of property owned by a person or company, regarded as having value and available to meet debts or commitments.

- The bank looked at his assets, including his house and car, before giving him a loan.
- The corporation was forced to liquidate its fixed assets to cover the mounting losses from its failed overseas expansion.

### 3. a spy or informant

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

a person who provides secret information to a government or intelligence agency.

For teachers: an individual who provides information or services to an intelligence agency, often while operating within a foreign country or organisation.

- The agency lost contact with their main asset in the capital city.
- Intelligence officials refused to comment on the identity of the asset who had provided the location of the insurgent headquarters.

### 4. body parts

noun · CEFR C1 · Informal · Slang · Humorous

a person's physical features, especially those considered attractive.

For teachers: a person's physical attributes, typically used to refer to the breasts, buttocks, or genitalia in a suggestive manner.

- She wore a tight dress that showed off her best assets.
- The tabloid article focused more on the actress's physical assets than on her performance in the film.

### 5. digital or technical resource

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

a digital file or piece of software that can be used again in different projects.

For teachers: any digital component, model, or framework of value that can be leveraged or reused across multiple systems or projects.

- The game developers created a library of 3D assets to use in the new level.
- The software architecture was designed to ensure that every digital asset could be easily integrated into future iterations of the platform.

## Examples

- Good communication skills are a great asset in any job.
- The company decided to sell its physical assets, such as machinery and buildings, to raise cash for new investments.
- While the firm's tangible assets are significant, its reputation and intellectual property represent the most critical components of its long-term market valuation.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.