Precious
/ˈprɛʃəs/
adjectiveB1
Definition
Precious describes something that has great value or meaning. It can mean something expensive or rare, like a precious jewel, or something emotionally important, like a precious memory or moment. People use it to show how much they care about something or someone.
Was this helpful?
See It in Action
Very valuable or rare (often about objects)
- •She wore a precious necklace made of gold.
- •The museum has a collection of precious stones.
- •This watch is precious because it belonged to my grandfather.
Very important or loved (often about feelings or time)
- •We spent precious time together before she moved away.
- •That photo is precious to me because it reminds me of my childhood.
- •Please take care of this precious memory.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "precious" like "special," but stronger—more important and valuable than just "special"
- ✓Picture a small, shiny diamond that is rare and beautiful, something you want to keep safe
- ✓It's the feeling you get when holding a gift from someone you love or remembering a happy moment
- ✓Sounds like "PRESS-uss" → imagine pressing something gently because it is very delicate and important
- ✓Think of fairy tales where kings and queens have precious treasures or a child’s precious toy they never want to lose
- ✓NOT like "cheap" (low value), "precious" means high value or importance
- ✓NOT like "ordinary" (common), "precious" means rare or special
- ✓NOT like "expensive" only—precious can be about feelings, not just money
Try Other Words
- •Valuable: worth a lot of money or importance (Use when focusing on money or usefulness)
- •Dear: loved or important to someone (Use when focusing on emotional value)
- •Treasured: highly valued and cared for (Use when emphasizing care and love)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: No clear prefix or suffix; root word "precious"
- •Etymology: From Latin "preciousus," meaning valuable or costly
- •Historical development: Used in English since the 14th century to describe things of high value or importance
- •Modern usage: Used for both physical objects (like jewels) and emotional things (like memories or time)
Reflect & Connect
•What are some things in your life that you consider precious, and why?
•Can something be precious even if it is not expensive? How?
Fill in the blanks
1.She kept the precious necklace ___ in a soft box to protect it from scratches.
2.Spending precious time with family is important because it ___ memories.
3.Unlike ordinary stones, precious stones are ___ and rare.
4.When you say "precious moment," you mean a time that is ___ to you.
5.People often feel ___ when they lose something precious.
6.He treated the old book as precious because it was ___ by his grandfather.
7.Precious things often need to be handled ___ to avoid damage.