“Worth the price”: how to use worth in English

The sweater looks good, but the price makes you pause. To ask whether something is worth what it costs, English uses one small word: worth.

How to say “worth the price”

Worth the price means that a thing is good enough to justify its cost. Worth is followed by a noun or by -ing, and it never takes “of” or “to”.

• This sweater is nice, but I’m not sure it’s worth the price.Doubt about whether the price is justified.
• The concert was expensive, but it was worth every penny.Very good value: the price felt fair.
• Is this bag worth fifty euros?Asking about value with a specific amount.

Don’t confuse worth with cost. Cost tells you the price (“The sweater costs 50 euros”). Worth tells you whether the thing is worth that price. And never write “worth of the price”.

Worth + -ing: “worth reading”, not “worth to read”

Learners whose first language uses an infinitive after this idea often write “worth to try”. In English, the verb after worth takes -ing, and the meaning is passive: worth reading means “worth being read”.

• This book is worth reading.Passive meaning in the -ing form.
• Is it worth buying a new sweater now?A question with worth + -ing.
• The old town is worth visiting.A recommendation about a place.

Useful phrases with worth

• It’s worth it. — Used when the price or effort is already clear from context.
• It’s not worth it. — Used when you decide to skip something or not pay more.
• worth every penny — very good value; you’re happy you paid.
• good value for money — a fair price for what you get.

For more shopping vocabulary, see “out of my budget” and clothes and shoes vocabulary.

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