# worthy

/ˈwɝði/ (US) · /wˈɜːði/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 1. deserving of something

adjective · CEFR B2

deserving of something, such as respect, support, or a prize.

For teachers: 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.

### 2. honourable

adjective · CEFR B2

having a good character and deserving respect.

For teachers: characterised by integrity, excellence, or moral value.

- 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.

### 3. an important person

noun · CEFR C1 · Humorous · Formal

an important or famous person, especially in a small town.

For teachers: 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.

## Examples

- The local worthies gathered at the town hall for the ceremony.
- The front row of the theater was reserved for city worthies and their families during the opening night gala.
- Despite the gravity of the economic crisis, the local worthies seemed more concerned with the seating arrangements for the upcoming centennial parade than with practical solutions.

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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.