different between worthwhile vs substantial

English

Alternative forms

• worth while
• worthwile (archaic)

Etymology

worth +? while

Pronunciation

• (UK, in accents with the wine-whine merger) IPA^(key): /w??(?)??wa?l/
• (UK, in accents without the merger) IPA^(key): /w??(?)???a?l/

Adjective

worthwhile (comparative more worthwhile, superlative most worthwhile)

1. Good and important enough to spend time, effort, or money on.

Synonyms

• worth it

Related terms

• worth one’s while

Translations

English

Etymology

From Old French substantiel.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /s?b?stæn??l/

Adjective

substantial (comparative more substantial, superlative most substantial)

1. Having a substance; actually existing.

   substantial life

2. Not imaginary; real; actual; true; veritable.
   • 1850s, Cardinal John Henry Newman, The Rise and Progress of Universities

     to do some substantial good, is the compensation for much incidental imperfection

3. Corporeal; material; firm.
4. Having good substance; strong; stout; solid; firm.

5. Possessed of goods or an estate; moderately wealthy.

6. Large in size, quantity, or value; ample; significant.

7. Most important; essential.
8. Satisfying; having sufficient substance to be nourishing or filling.

Derived terms

Translations

Noun

substantial (plural substantials)

1. Anything having substance; an essential part.