precious āļāļ·āļāļāļ°āđāļĢ precious āļāļ·āļāļāļ°āđāļĢ Of high cost or worth; valuable.Highly esteemed; cherished.Dear; beloved. Affectedly dainty or overrefined: precious mannerisms. Informal Thoroughgoing; unmitigated: a precious mess. One who is dear or beloved; a darling.Used as an intensive: "He had precious little right to complainâ ( James Agee).