Price vs Worth
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Price
Top 1,000 (very common)A1noun
Worth
Top 1,000 (very common)B1adjective
| Price | Worth | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/praɪs/"]/🇺🇸 /["/praɪs/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/wɜːθ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/wɜːrθ/"]/ |
| Meaning | The amount of money you need to pay for something. | the value or importance of something |
| Example | The price of the book is ten dollars. | This painting is worth a lot of money. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | A1 | B1 |
| Part of speech | noun | adjective |
| Collocations | exorbitant, high, inflated, command, fetch, go for, climb, double, go up, level, range, hike, at a/the price, in price, a drop in price, a fall in price, a reduction in price | be, prove, become, really, well, certainly, to, be, prove, become, really, well, certainly, to, be, prove, become, really, well, certainly, to |
| Antonyms | free, costlessness | worthless, valueless |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'prize' which is a reward for winning., Using 'price' as a verb when it should be a noun., Mixing up 'price' with 'value', which can have different meanings. | Using 'worth' without specifying what is being valued., Confusing 'worth' with 'valuable'., Incorrectly placing 'worth' before the amount, like 'worth 50 dollars'. |
| Usage notes | Used in everyday conversations about buying and selling. Not typically used in very formal writing, which might prefer 'cost'. | Use 'worth' when discussing value, often with money-related contexts (e.g., 'This painting is worth $500'). Avoid using 'worth' with non-quantifiable concepts like time or effort. |
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Frequently asked questions: Price vs Worth
What's the difference between Price and Worth?
Price: The amount of money you need to pay for something. Worth: the value or importance of something
Which is more advanced: Price and Worth?
Worth is the highest level, at B1, on the CEFR scale.
Are Price and Worth the same CEFR level?
Price: A1, Worth: B1 on the CEFR scale.
What part of speech are Price and Worth?
Price: noun, Worth: adjective.
Can you show an example of each?
Price: The price of the book is ten dollars. Worth: This painting is worth a lot of money.
Can I use Price and Worth interchangeably?
Not always. Price and Worth are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.