appreciate

[ uh-pree-shee-eyt ]

verb (used with object)

, ap·pre·ci·at·ed, ap·pre·ci·at·ing.

1. to be grateful or thankful for:

   They appreciated his thoughtfulness.

2. to value or regard highly; place a high estimate on:

   to appreciate good wine.

3. to be fully conscious of; be aware of; detect:

   to appreciate the dangers of a situation.

4. to raise in value.

verb (used without object)

, ap·pre·ci·at·ed, ap·pre·ci·at·ing.

1. to increase in value:

   Property values appreciated yearly.

appreciate

/ -sɪ-; əˈpriːʃɪˌeɪt /

verb

1. to feel thankful or grateful for

   to appreciate a favour

2. may take a clause as object to take full or sufficient account of

   to appreciate a problem

3. to value highly

   to appreciate Shakespeare

4. usually intr to raise or increase in value

Derived Forms

• apˈpreciˌator, noun

Other Words From

• ap·pre·ci·at·ing·ly adverb
• ap·pre·ci·a·tor noun
• self-ap·pre·ci·at·ing adjective
• un·ap·pre·ci·at·ing adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of appreciate¹

First recorded in 1645–55; from Medieval Latin appreciātus “valued, appraised,” from Late Latin appretiātus, past participle of appretiāre “to appraise” (equivalent to Latin ap- ap- ¹ + preti(um) price + -ātus -ate ¹ )

Word History and Origins

Origin of appreciate¹

C17: from Medieval Latin appretiāre to value, prize, from Latin pretium price

Example Sentences

I wrote about how much I appreciate that kind of sweet kookiness in comedies — the sort of story ideas you simply can’t imagine a filmmaker pitching today, let alone a studio executive greenlighting.

From Vox

This is a Mustang, after all, so that is important to the people who appreciate that heritage.

From Popular-Science

We have a card that was specifically planned to espouse how fast life moves, and how we may forget to stop and say, “I appreciate you.”

From Vox

It was a true lightswitch wine for me, and helped me understand and appreciate grower Champagne in a deeper way.

From Eater

That’s one thing Kramon appreciates, even on the most painful calls.

From Washington Post

He was getting another lesson in what he had seemed not to appreciate fully about cops.

From The Daily Beast

She fails to appreciate the congressional and constitutional obstacles Johnson had to overcome to win passage of the bill.

From The Daily Beast

What I appreciate is, they are respectful of the democratic process.

From The Daily Beast

Body Positivist Who Also Happens to Look Like Beyoncé "Young people don't appreciate how beautiful our bodies are."

From The Daily Beast

But this is shaping up to be the hottest product of the year, so your favorite techie will surely appreciate an I.O.U from Santa.

From The Daily Beast

The pupil will appreciate its practical value the moment he masters the key to it.

From Project Gutenberg

He, who knows the dangers and necessities we were in, will appreciate the joy we felt and that we feel at its arrival.

From Project Gutenberg

No one could appreciate better than ourselves the unpleasant possibilities that stared us in the face.

From Project Gutenberg

It is just this joyous, care-free nature of the Irish that the stolid Englishman will never learn to appreciate.

From Project Gutenberg

We say—mark this, in order to appreciate a display of the true genius of statesmanship.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• admire
• adore
• applaud
• cherish
• enjoy
• honor
• like
• love
• relish
• respect
• savor
• think highly of
• treasure
• value

When To Use

What are other ways to say appreciate?

To appreciate something is to value or regard it highly. How is appreciate different from esteem, value, and prize? Learn more on Thesaurus.com.