appreciable
Americanadjective
adjective
Other Word Forms
- appreciably adverb
- unappreciable adjective
- unappreciably adverb
Etymology
Origin of appreciable
First recorded in 1810–20; appreci(ate) + -able
Explanation
Movie theater popcorn tastes much better than microwave popcorn. The difference between them is appreciable — that is, you notice it. A good way to remember appreciable is to think of the related word appreciate. You appreciate the quality of the popcorn at the movie theater because it is significantly better than what you make at home. Of course, appreciable differences aren't always appreciated. There has been an appreciable improvement in the quality of televisions in the last 20 years, but if you've got an old TV, that isn't much comfort.
Vocabulary lists containing appreciable
Novel Study: When Breath Becomes Air, Prologue–Part I
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Stan Freberg (1926-2015) Tribute List
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Anya and the Dragon
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The Conference Board’s result was at odds with a University of Michigan survey that showed an appreciable March decline.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 31, 2026
The White House maintains that Trump’s will yield appreciable benefits in the future.
From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 6, 2025
Glass-vitrine walls teasingly appreciable at great distances, even from the grand hall below, house dense, globe-trotting displays of ceramics.
From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 29, 2025
Under these circumstances, and as the current representative of religious horror, the relevance of its plot is appreciable.
From Salon • Jun. 6, 2025
During the first days they did not come across any appreciable obstacle.
From "One Hundred Years of Solitude" by Gabriel Garcia Marquez
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
