Definitions for worthy
ˈwɜr ðiwor·thy

Princeton's WordNet(4.44 / 9 votes)Rate this definition:

1. worthyadjective

   an important, honorable person (word is often used humorously)

   "he told his story to some conservative worthies"; "local worthies rarely challenged the chief constable"

2. worthyadjective

   having worth or merit or value; being honorable or admirable

   "a worthy fellow"; "a worthy cause"

3. desirable, suitable, worthyadjective

   worthy of being chosen especially as a spouse

   "the parents found the girl suitable for their son"

4. worthyadjective

   having qualities or abilities that merit recognition in some way

   "behavior worthy of reprobation"; "a fact worthy of attention"

Samuel Johnson's Dictionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Worthyadjective

   Etymology: from worth.

   1. Deserving; such as merits: with of before the thing deserved.

   She determined never to marry any but him, whom she thought worthy of her, and that was one in whom all worthinesses were harboured. Philip Sidney.

   Further, I will not flatter you,
   That all I see in you is worthy love,
   Than this; that nothing do I see in you
   That should merit hate. William Shakespeare, King John.

   Thou art worthy of the sway,
   To whom the heav’ns in thy nativity
   Adjudg’d an olive branch and laurel crown. William Shakespeare.

   2. Valuable; noble; illustrious; having excellence or dignity.

   If the best things have the perfectest and best operations, it will follow, that seeing man is the worthiest creature on earth, and every society of men more worthy than any man, and of society that is the most excellent which we call the church. Richard Hooker.

   He now on Pompey’s basis lies along,
   No worthier than the dust? William Shakespeare, Julius Cæsar.

   A war upon the Turks is more worthy than upon any other Gentiles in point of religion and honour; though hope of success might invite some other choice. Francis Bacon.

   Think of her worth, and think that God did mean,
   This worthy mind should worthy things embrace:
   Blot not her beauties with thy thoughts unclean,
   Nor her dishonour with thy passion base. Davies.

   Happier thou may’st be, worthier canst not be. John Milton.

   3. Having worth; having virtue.

   The doctor is well money’d, and his friends
   Potent at court; he, none but he, shall have her;
   Though twenty thousand worthier come to crave her. William Shakespeare.

   The matter I handle is the most important within the whole extent of human nature, for a worthy person to employ himself about. Kenelm Digby, on the Soul.

   We see, though order’d for the best,
   Permitted laurels grace the lawless brow,
   Th’ unworthy rais’d, the worthy cast below. Dryden.

   4. Not good. A term of ironical celebration.

   My worthy wife our arms mislaid,
   And from beneath my head my sword convey’d;
   The door unlatch’d; and with repeated calls
   Invites her former lord within my walls. Dryden.

   5. Suitable for any quality good or bad; equal in value; equal in dignity.

   Flowers worthy of paradise. John Milton.

   Thou, Drances, art below a death from me:
   Let that vile soul in that vile body rest,
   The lodging is well worthy of the guest. Dryden.

   My suff’rings for you make your heart my due;
   Be worthy me, as I am worthy you. Dryden.

   6. Suitable to any thing bad.

   The merciless Macdonald,
   Worthy to be a rebel; for to that
   The multiplying villanies of nature
   Do swarm upon him. William Shakespeare, Macbeth.

   7. Deserving of ill.

   What has he done to Rome that’s worthy death. William Shakespeare.

   If the wicked man be worthy to be beaten, the judge shall cause him to be beaten. Deut. xxv. 2.

2. Worthynoun

   A man laudable for any eminent quality, particularly for valour.

   Etymology: from the adjective.

   Such as are constellated unto knowledge come short of themselves if they go not beyond others, and must not sit down under the degree of worthies. Thomas Browne, Vulgar Errours.

   What do these worthies
   But rob and spoil, burn, slaughter, and enslave
   Peaceable nations. John Milton, Paradise Regained.

   No worthies form’d by any muse but thine
   Could purchase robes, to make themselves so fine. Edmund Waller.

   For this day’s palm, and for thy former acts,
   Thou Arthur hast acquir’d a future fame,
   And of three Christian worthies art the first. Dryden.

   The next worthy came in with a retinue of historians. Tatler.

3. To Worthyverb

   To render worthy; to aggrandise; to exalt. Not used.

   Etymology: from the adjective.

   He conjunct, trip’d me behind;
   And put upon him such a deal of man,
   That worthied him; got praises of the king,
   For him attempting, who was self-subdu’d. William Shakespeare.

Webster Dictionary(3.00 / 2 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Worthynoun

   having worth or excellence; possessing merit; valuable; deserving; estimable; excellent; virtuous

2. Worthynoun

   having suitable, adapted, or equivalent qualities or value; -- usually with of before the thing compared or the object; more rarely, with a following infinitive instead of of, or with that; as, worthy of, equal in excellence, value, or dignity to; entitled to; meriting; -- usually in a good sense, but sometimes in a bad one

3. Worthynoun

   of high station; of high social position

4. Worthynoun

   a man of eminent worth or value; one distinguished for useful and estimable qualities; a person of conspicuous desert; -- much used in the plural; as, the worthies of the church; political worthies; military worthies

5. Worthyverb

   to render worthy; to exalt into a hero

6. Etymology: [OE. worthi, wuri, from worth, wur, n.; cf. Icel. verugr, D. waardig, G. wrdig, OHG. wirdg. See Worth, n.]

Editors Contribution(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. worthy

   To have a sense of value and worth.

   They did know they were both worthy of the love they gave to each other.

   
   

   Submitted by MaryC on December 30, 2019  

British National Corpus

1. Adjectives Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'worthy' in Adjectives Frequency: #864

Anagrams for worthy »

1. wrothy

How to pronounce worthy?

1. Alex

   US English

   David

   US English

   Mark

   US English

   Daniel

   British

   Libby

   British

   Mia

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Hayley

   Australian

   Natasha

   Australian

   Veena

   Indian

   Priya

   Indian

   Neerja

   Indian

   Zira

   US English

   Oliver

   British

   Wendy

   British

   Fred

   US English

   Tessa

   South African

How to say worthy in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of worthy in Chaldean Numerology is: 7

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of worthy in Pythagorean Numerology is: 1

Examples of worthy in a Sentence

1. Alan Dupont:

   If you look at before this set of legislation and related changes, it was a pretty ludicrous situation where Japanese Self-Defence Forces could barely do anything worthy of the name of defense forces except in a major attack on Japan, i'd say they've moved from 25 percent to 50 percent. It's like a doubling of their flexibility and capacity to deploy forces overseas, but we're still 50 percent short of what the industry standard is.

2. Kirya michael Owen:

   Your network determines your net worthy

3. Anita Moorjani:

   I knew I was meant to live. I was deserving and worthy of having my health, it’s easier being dead than it is alive.

4. For The People Act:

   I feel so proud to think that she would think that I’m worthy, she has seen me work. I truly feel she knows that I have what it takes.

5. Jenny McCarthyopened:

   I no longer had my own thoughts, they were replaced with his thoughts about me. That I was worthless, disgusting, talentless, ugly, fat, smelled so badly. I was no longer worthy of being kissed.

Popularity rank by frequency of use