Other word for worth it

“Worthy” is usually used to describe people that are valuable and “worth it” is used to describe objects and experiences. These words are also two different word types, and therefore cannot be used interchangeably.

Read on to learn the meaning of the two words and when the appropriate time to use each would be.

Etymology of Worth

Historical data shows the word “worth” being used as early as the 1200s. The etymology defines “worth” as an Old English word of Germanic origin. The adjective was first used in the 13th century while the noun form of the word was first recognized in the 14th century.

What does “Worthy” Mean?

The Cambridge English Dictionary defines “worthy” as deserving respect, admiration, or support. The word “worthy” traditionally asks if someone or something is good or not good enough. Some examples of usage for the adjective include

They bestowed upon him an honor of which he was not worthy.
Her kind spirit was worthy of attention.
The man didn’t feel he was worthy of a raise.

What does “Worth It” Mean?

While the word “worth” in “worth it” is a derivative of “worthy”, the words cannot be used interchangeably. Used with the conjoining “it”, “worth” becomes a preposition or a word that governs another in the English language.

Some examples of using the phrase “worth it” include

The dinner was sixty dollars but she didn’t think it was worth it.
He thought it was worth it to ride the bus instead of fly.
Do you think the high price tag at the fair is worth it?

Which Word Should I Use?

When determining which word variation to use, think about what the word is describing. In most instances, the word “worthy” will be used in sentences that describe people. “Worth it”, on the other hand, usually refers to an object or thing and something with value.

A simple trick that can help you in determining which word to use is to say it out loud in a sentence. If the proper word or phrase is used, the sentence will flow off the tongue easily and effortlessly.

If the incorrect word is used, however, the sentence will sound fractured and odd.

Synonyms of Worthy

While the phrase “worth it” doesn’t have any synonyms, “worthy” has several. A synonym is a word that means or infers the same as another word. Synonyms of worthy include

• Admirable
• Desirable
• Deserving
• Excellent

The phrases “is it worth it” and “does it worth it” both seem to follow the same rules. However, only one of these phrases is correct, while the other you should never use the other. This article will explain which one is better to use and why.

“Is it worth it” is grammatically correct, and we use it to ask where something is “worth” a certain thing. In this case, the verb “does” is always wrong. It is an auxiliary verb, so we would need another verb to accompany it. “Worth” is an adjective.

Using “worth” in this sentence means it’s an adjective. We’re looking to define the exact “worth” of something. “Is” is the correct verb form to use because it asks a question of the value of something.

What Does “Is It Worth It” Mean?

“Is it worth it” means we’re asking whether something is worth doing. That means we’re comparing the risks of the thing we want to do to the advantages to see whether there’s enough value in doing it.

The definition of “worth,” according to The Cambridge Dictionary, is “enjoyable enough or producing enough advantages to make the necessary effort, risk, pain, etc., seem acceptable.”

We can also use the phrase “you are worth it” to mean something similar. In this case, we’re talking about someone’s personal “worth” being acceptable.

“You are worth it” means that we value the importance or enjoyability of somebody enough compared to the disadvantages that might come along with them. It’s something you would say to your romantic partner more than anyone else.

Examples Of How To Use “Is It Worth It” In A Sentence

Let’s go over using “is it worth it” in a sentence. Sometimes, the adjective “worth” relates to monetary value, while other times, we might be able to talk about the actually physical enjoyment of something.

To help you understand what we mean, these examples will explore both of those definitions.

1. I like this phone, but is it worth the price?
2. I don’t understand this. Is it really worth it to order this when there are so many other options?
3. Is this worth it? It looks good, but I feel like it’s too expensive.
4. You are worth it to me, and I won’t quit until you see that!
5. Is it worth it for me to participate in these events? I’ll feel like I’ll just keep losing.
6. Is this worth it because I’m not having any fun at the minute!
7. None of this is worth it. I’m done trying to impress you.

As you can see, there are a few variations of “is it worth it.” We can replace the first two words to become a statement “it is worth it” rather than a question.

“It is worth it” is a statement we can make to say that something is already worth putting time, effort, or money into. If we’ve evaluated the risk versus rewards, then something is “worth it” when we don’t mind the risks.

Is It Correct To Use “Is It Worth”?

“Is it worth” is incorrect. It’s an incomplete sentence that needs an extra word or two before it works.

The adjective “worth” needs something to describe. The point of an adjective is to modify a noun in a sentence, so without anything coming after “worth,” we’re left with an incomplete sentence.

Here’s what we mean:

• Is it worth it? (“It” is the noun)
• Is it worth the money? (“They money” is the noun)
• Is it worth my time? (“My time” is the noun)

It doesn’t matter what noun you put after “worth,” but there does have to be one there. Without it, you’ll find that “is it worth” never makes sense.

Should I Use “Is It Worth It” Or “Is It Worthy”?

“Worthy” is another adjective that’s similar to “worth.” However, we use it in a much different sense.

You should use “is it worth it” rather than “is it worthy.” “Is it worth it” talks about whether something is worth our effort, while “is it worthy” asks whether something deserves our respect.

According to this graph, it’s obvious that “is it worth it” is the more common phrase in English. “Is it worthy” does sometimes get used, but the situations where it’s relevant are much less common to come across.

Historically, “is it worthy” was the more popular choice, but in the 1920s, “worth it” took over in popularity. Now, “worthy” is seen as an archaic word that very rarely sees any relevance in modern English.

Is It Ever Correct To Use “Is It Worthed It”?

“Is it worthed it” is never correct. The suffix “-ed” applies to past tense verbs. However, “worth” is an adjective and not a verb, therefore making it impossible to use “is it worthed it” correctly.

Worth It – Synonyms

Let’s check out some synonyms for saying “worth it.” You might find one of these slightly more useful to you, especially if you don’t really understand the adjective form of “worth it.”

• Worthwhile
• Desirable
• Profitable
• Useful
• Valuable
• Beneficial
• Constructive
• Meaningful
• Productive

All of these words are great synonyms for “worth it.” We can also ask “is it” as a question before any of these words to value whether we think something is important enough to spend our time or money on it.

How Do You Say “Worth It” Professionally?

Finally, you’ll be better off avoiding using “worth it” professionally. It’s not the most formal phrase to use, so you should find a more suitable alternative.

You should say “is it profitable” or “is it constructive” if you’re trying to ask your boss or a colleague whether something is “worth it.” They’re more professional terms (especially in a business sense).

• Do you have any ideas of what we can do with this assignment?
• Yes, boss. I’ve asked around to see whether it is profitable and found that many people agree.

• Is there anything you can report back?
• Yes, it was constructive to come up with these reports.

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