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precious

precious

407 3.2
Very important and loved because of strong personal feelings
  • adjective
  • /ˈprɛʃəs/
translation icon : valioso
  • They held onto their precious memories from their childhood vacations at the beach.
  • precious time
  • spend precious time
  • waste precious time

This is like it but it is precious and I love it.

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Examples

  • And I think awareness is the most precious kind of freedom.

  • Her ring is precious to her because it was passed down from her grandmother.

  • You have to realize that life is precious, right?

  • Do you know, do you really know how precious life is?

  • If you believe life is precious, clearly you know it's also short.

  • And I know we have some precious time with you before you take off.

  • - Those were your most precious things when you were little.

  • I have the most precious cargo with me.

  • It really brought home how precious our memories are.

  • Yeah, as one family, we mourn every precious life that's been lost.

Synonyms

beloved
vsprecious
377 2.1

Very much loved, often for a long time

is broader, meaning important or special often because of strong feelings
darling
vsprecious
  • Informal
45 1.8

Loved very much by someone

is less about intimate address and more about emotional importance
valued
vsprecious
1 3.7

A person or thing that people see as important because of good qualities

is more emotionally charged, not only based on usefulness or esteem
cherished
vsprecious
1 3.4

Very much loved and kept, like a special photo or memory

is more general, covering importance that may be emotional or practical
treasured
vsprecious
1 4.1

A thing people keep because they love it and it brings memories

can also mean important in a nonliteral or symbolic way rather than only affection
prized
vsprecious
1 3.4

Very valuable to someone because they care about it

leans more toward emotional or special value rather than judged worth
loved
vsprecious
1.0

A person or thing that someone cares about very much

is more likely to include nonpersonal importance beyond direct care

Antonyms

298 3.0

Has no value or use

common
  • Offensive
182 5.7

Low quality and often rude in style

Idioms

precious little
  • Informal
26 4.5

Only a very small amount remains

Compounds

A rare metal like gold or silver that has high value

A special time you care about and want to remember

A rare valuable gem like a diamond used in jewelry

Something people keep safe because it is worth money or has special meaning

A stone like amethyst or turquoise used in jewelry that costs less than diamonds

A hard red or pink stony skeleton from Mediterranean sea animals used for jewelry

How Cherished

beloved
377 2.1
treasured
1 4.1
precious
407 3.2
valued
1 3.7
special
1.0

Surface Forms

precious positive

Morphology

precious = preci + ous

The adjectival formation involves the non-productive combining form 'preci-' plus the suffix '-ous'; the root form is not a recognisable English base, so learners cannot reliably derive the meaning from the parts.

Etymology

Precious comes from the Latin word pretium meaning 'price' and is the same root as price, so a 'precious' memory is like something you would put a high price on — very loved and special.