sentimental value
- noun
- /ˌsɛntɪˈmɛntəl ˈvælju/
- Lots of people have stuff that has great sentimental value that they have had for years.
Our things have sentimental value only because we have imparted sentimentality onto them, right?
- Our things have sentimental value only because we have imparted sentimentality onto them, right?
- This shirt has like weird sentimental value for me, for my boyfriend, which I might tell you guys that story one day.
- Do you ever get in those moods where you're like, I can't throw anything away, Everything has sentimental value, I refuse.
- I would be terrified of, like, lending something of that significant value and sentimental value.
- I think the idea of it eventually coming to the end of its shelf life, whatever, makes the sentimental value of it even better.
- It's something unique and, and on top of that, you know, it has a sentimental value that just really, I don't know you, you can't, you can't buy that.
Examples
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I thought about throwing them out, but they just have too much sentimental value.
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The stone had been Carlton's grandmother's, and Joanna had been thrilled with it, mostly because of its sentimental value.
Fiction book (2001) -
This one has sentimental value for its owner.
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This building has sentimental value.
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This car has tremendous sentimental value to me.
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An heirloom piece of jewelry can be a wonderful engagement ring that has great sentimental value.
Blog text (24) -
Regarding the move, I'm keeping only those books that have sentimental value and those received as gifts with handwritten notes.
Blog text (13) -
And I realized how much of the art he collected held deep sentimental value, and that memories and friendships weren't disposable.
Academic text (2010) -
A gift, once given, belongs entirely to the recipient; only when the item given has sentimental value does it keep the bond between giver and recipient alive.
Academic text (2004) -
This car has tremendous sentimental value to me.
Antonyms
How Sentimental
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning 'emotional worth attached to something' is directly and compositionally derived from 'sentimental' (having emotional feelings) + 'value' (worth), so a learner who knows both words can infer the phrase. This is a common, cross-linguistic pattern (e.g. Spanish 'valor sentimental') and follows ordinary adjective + noun composition, making it immediately comprehensible at B1.
Etymology
Sentimental value comes from the parts sentimental, meaning personal feeling, and value, meaning worth, so imagine an old toy that is not worth much to others but brings strong memories. So it means 'emotional worth' rather than the object's 'price'.