Word
worthy
Phoneticswor·thy, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈwɝði/
UK/wˈɜːði/
Definitions
01deserving of something
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adj. deserving of something, such as respect, support, or a prize.
adj. having sufficient worth or merit to deserve a particular treatment or reward; frequently takes the preposition 'of'.
“The charity provides help to many worthy causes in the local area.”
“The committee struggled to decide which applicant was most worthy of the scholarship, as every candidate demonstrated exceptional academic potential.”
Usage
Commonly followed by 'of' plus a noun or gerund.
Synonyms
Antonyms
02honourable
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adj. having a good character and deserving respect.
adj. characterised by integrity, excellence, or moral value.
Español:digno
“He was a worthy opponent who played the game fairly.”
“Though they were rivals, she considered him a worthy successor who would maintain the high standards of the institution.”
Synonyms
Antonyms
03an important person
C1 · Advanced Countable noun Humorous · Formal
n. an important or famous person, especially in a small town.
n. a person of some importance or standing within a specific community or organisation.
“The local worthies gathered at the town hall for the annual dinner.”
“The front row was occupied by various local worthies, including the mayor and several prominent business owners.”
Usage
Often used in the plural form 'worthies'.
Teaching tip
In modern usage, this is often slightly humorous or ironic, suggesting the people think they are more important than they actually are.
Antonyms
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “worthy” in context.
Verb
01. deem the project worthy
“The committee will only provide funding if they deem the project worthy of investment.”
verb + noun + adj
02. prove worthy of the trust
“She worked tirelessly to prove worthy of the trust her mentors had placed in her.”
verb + adj + prep + noun
Adjective
03. entirely worthy of attention
“The new evidence presented by the defense is entirely worthy of attention from the jury.”
adv + adj + prep + noun
04. worthy of consideration
“While the proposal is unconventional, it is certainly worthy of consideration by the board.”
adj + prep + noun
05. worthy to represent the country
“The young athlete felt honored and worthy to represent the country at the Olympic Games.”
adj + infinitive
Noun
06. worthy cause
“All proceeds from the charity auction will go toward a worthy cause in the local community.”
adj + noun
07. worthy opponent
“After a grueling match, the champion shook hands with his worthy opponent.”
adj + noun
Real-World Examples
“Morrison showed me that Black lives and characters from marginalised worlds are worthy of being centred within literature.” “Miltenova has said she is now "confident" that Bulgaria will be a "worthy" host and the country would "showcase the very best of our culture, hospitality and professionalism".” Etymology
From Middle English worthy, wurthi, from Old English *weorþiġ (“worthy”), equivalent to worth + -y. Cognate with Dutch waardig (“worthy”), Middle Low German werdig (“worthy”), German würdig (“worthy”), Swedish värdig (“worthy”), Icelandic verðugt (“worthy”).
From Middle English worthien, wurthien, from Old English weorþian (“to esteem, honor, worship, distinguish, celebrate, exalt, praise, adorn, deck, enrich, reward”), from Proto-Germanic werþōną (“to be worthy, estimate, appreciate, appraise”), from Proto-Indo-European wert- (“to turn, wind”). Cognate with German werten (“to rate, judge, grade, score”), Swedish värdera (“to evaluate, rate, size up, assess, estimate”), Icelandic virða (“to respect, esteem”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- C1 · AdvancedOxford
- Updated
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englishreference.com/q/worthy
Traducciones: Kaikki.org (Wiktionary), CC BY-SA 4.0