worthwhile

adjective

worth·​while ˈwərth-ˈ(h)wī(-ə)l How to pronounce worthwhile (audio)
Synonyms of worthwhilenext
1
: being worth the time or effort spent
worthwhile preparations
2
: worthy sense 1
a worthwhile cause
worthwhileness noun

Examples of worthwhile in a Sentence

The money is for a worthwhile cause. Seeing my children's joy made building the tree house all worthwhile. Is it worthwhile to try to fix my computer?
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
More flexibility, more savings Christina DeSomma is another parent who doesn't let the school calendar limit her family's vacations, and the financial benefits alone are worthwhile. — Kathleen Wong, USA Today, 27 Aug. 2026 That would be a boon for the Rangers, who took a worthwhile upside swing on a prospect with an intriguing tool kit and fierce determination. — Vincent Z. Mercogliano, New York Times, 26 Aug. 2026 In the meantime, both Brooklyn Heights and Brooklyn Bridge Park will have to tolerate a decade of racket and disruption and hope the result is worthwhile. — Justin Davidson, Curbed, 24 Aug. 2026 In fact, research published in Nature Climate Change found that greater science literacy and numeracy, while a worthwhile educational metric, did not produce uniformly greater concern about climate risk. — Jamil Wyne, Forbes.com, 22 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for worthwhile

Word History

First Known Use

1662, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of worthwhile was in 1662

Rhymes for worthwhile

See All Rhymes for worthwhile

Browse Nearby Words

worth someone's while
worthwhile
worthy
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Cite this Entry

“Worthwhile.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/worthwhile. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

worthwhile

adjective
worth·​while ˈwərth-ˈhwī(ə)l How to pronounce worthwhile (audio)
-ˈwī(ə)l
1
: being worth the time or effort spent
worthwhile preparations
2
: worthy sense 1a

More from Merriam-Webster on worthwhile

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for worthwhile

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