Cherished vs. Precious — What's the Difference?
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Fiza Rafique — Updated on April 16, 2024
Cherished involves deep emotional attachment, often to memories or people; precious implies high value or rarity, typically of objects or materials.
Difference Between Cherished and Precious
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Cherished primarily refers to something dearly loved or highly valued on an emotional or sentimental level, highlighting personal connections. Whereas precious denotes something of great value, often related to monetary worth or rarity, emphasizing materialistic qualities.
When someone cherishes a memory or an object, it implies an emotional investment and a treasured status in one's life. On the other hand, describing something as precious usually suggests it holds significant economic value or is rare, like precious metals or stones.
Cherished items often have personal stories or history attached, making them irreplaceable in emotional terms. In contrast, precious items are typically sought after for their inherent qualities, such as diamonds or gold, which are universally valued.
Emotional responses are strongly linked to cherished possessions; they evoke feelings of nostalgia or deep affection. Whereas precious things are often admired for their aesthetic qualities or as investments, making them desirable to a broader audience.
The act of cherishing can apply to intangible elements as well, such as relationships or achievements, emphasizing the depth of personal sentiment. Precious, however, is more commonly used to describe tangible items that can be quantified or evaluated financially.
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Comparison Chart
Primary Connotation
Emotional attachment
High value or rarity
Typical Usage
Memories, relationships, possessions
Materials, jewels, artifacts
Emotional Connection
Strong, personal
Less personal, more materialistic
Value
Sentimental
Monetary or intrinsic
Commonly Described As
Irreplaceable, beloved
Valuable, sought-after
Compare with Definitions
Cherished
Deeply loved or valued highly.
The cherished necklace from her grandmother always brought a smile to her face.
Precious
Valuable in terms of monetary worth.
The stolen jewels were particularly precious because of their historical significance.
Cherished
Kept fondly in one's mind.
His cherished memories of childhood summers at the lake were always vivid.
Precious
Of great value, not to be wasted or treated carelessly.
Every minute with her dying father was precious.
Cherished
Held dear.
Every cherished moment with his family was like a treasure.
Precious
Highly esteemed or cherished.
Precious metals like gold and platinum are highly sought after.
Cherished
Cared for with affection.
The cherished garden was a testament to her dedication.
Precious
Dear; beloved.
The precious child was the light of their lives.
Cherished
Treasured.
The family photos were cherished possessions that they rescued first.
Precious
Exquisite or delicate.
She handled the precious china with great care.
Cherished
Cherished is the 14th studio album by American singer-actress Cher released in September 1977 by Warner Bros. Records.
Precious
Of high cost or worth; valuable
Precious jewels.
Cherished
To treat with affection and tenderness; hold dear
Cherish one's family.
Fine rugs that are cherished by their owners.
Precious
Highly esteemed; cherished
Precious moments with the new baby.
Cherished
To keep fondly in mind; treasure
Cherish a memory.
Precious
Dear; beloved
A friend who is precious to me.
Cherished
Highly valued, having a high personal value.
Precious
Affectedly dainty or overrefined
Precious mannerisms.
Cherished
Simple past tense and past participle of cherish
Precious
(Informal) Thoroughgoing; unmitigated
A precious mess.
Cherished
Deeply loved or valued.
Precious
One who is dear or beloved; a darling.
Cherished
Characterized by feeling or showing fond affection for;
A cherished friend
Children are precious
A treasured heirloom
So good to feel wanted
Precious
Used as an intensive
"He had precious little right to complain" (James Agee).
Cherished
Thought of and clung to fondly or reverentially
Precious
Of high value or worth.
The crown had many precious gemstones.
This building work needs site access, and tell the city council that I don't care about a few lorry tyre ruts across their precious grass verge.
Precious
Regarded with love or tenderness.
My precious daughter is to marry.
Precious
(pejorative) Treated with too much reverence.
He spent hours painting the eyes of the portrait, which his fellow artists regarded as a bit precious.
Precious
; damned.
Precious
(pejorative) Contrived to be cute or charming.
Precious
(colloquial) Thorough; utter.
A precious rascal
Precious
Someone (or something) who is loved; a darling.
Precious
Very; an intensifier.
There is precious little we can do.
Precious few pictures of him exist
Precious
Of great price; costly; as, a precious stone.
Precious
Of great value or worth; very valuable; highly esteemed; dear; beloved; as, precious recollections.
She is more precious than rules.
Many things which are most precious are neglected only because the value of them lieth hid.
Precious
Particular; fastidious; overnice; overrefined. Cf. Précieuse, Preciosity.
Lest that precious folk be with me wroth.
Elaborate embroidery of precious language.
Precious
Characterized by feeling or showing fond affection for;
A cherished friend
Children are precious
A treasured heirloom
So good to feel wanted
Precious
Of high worth or cost;
Diamonds, sapphires, rubies, and emeralds are precious stones
Precious
Obviously contrived to charm;
An insufferably precious performance
A child with intolerably cute mannerisms
Precious
Extremely;
There is precious little time left
Common Curiosities
What makes something precious?
High monetary value, rarity, and desirability make something precious.
What does it mean when something is called cherished?
It means it is deeply loved or valued, often on a personal or emotional level.
Can the status of something as cherished or precious change over time?
Yes, an item's status can change depending on personal circumstances or market values.
Is it more common to inherit cherished or precious items?
Both can be inherited, but cherished items are more likely tied to personal histories.
How does the value of cherished items compare to precious items?
While cherished items have sentimental value, precious items typically have monetary or intrinsic value.
Why do people value precious items?
People value precious items for their beauty, rarity, and potential investment worth.
Can an object be both cherished and precious?
Yes, an object can be both cherished for its emotional significance and precious for its material value.
What are typical examples of cherished items?
Family heirlooms, personal letters, and photographs are common examples of cherished items.
Are cherished items always tangible?
No, cherished items can also be intangible, like memories or experiences.
How do museums categorize cherished vs. precious items?
Museums might categorize items as precious based on their historical and monetary value, while personal collections might hold cherished items.
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Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
Edited by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
