1 appreciate | Definition of appreciate
Logo
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

appreciate

verb
ap·​pre·​ci·​ate | \ ə-ˈprē-shē-ˌāt How to pronounce appreciate (audio) , -ˈpri- also -ˈprē-sē- How to pronounce appreciate (audio) \
appreciated; appreciating

Definition of appreciate

transitive verb

1a : to grasp the nature, worth, quality, or significance of appreciate the difference between right and wrong
b : to value or admire highly She appreciates our work.
c : to judge with heightened perception or understanding : be fully aware of must see it to appreciate it
d : to recognize with gratitude I appreciate your kindness.
2 : to increase the value of

intransitive verb

: to increase in number or value Your investment should appreciate over time.
Other Words from appreciate Synonyms & Antonyms Choose the Right Synonym Meanings of Appreciate More Example Sentences Learn More about appreciate

Keep scrolling for more

Other Words from appreciate

appreciator \ -​ˌā-​tər How to pronounce appreciator (audio) \ noun
appreciatory \ -​ˈprē-​shə-​ˌtȯr-​ē How to pronounce appreciatory (audio) , -​ˈpri-​shə-​ How to pronounce appreciatory (audio) \ adjective

Choose the Right Synonym for appreciate

appreciate, value, prize, treasure, cherish mean to hold in high estimation. appreciate often connotes sufficient understanding to enjoy or admire a thing's excellence. appreciates fine wine value implies rating a thing highly for its intrinsic worth. values our friendship prize implies taking a deep pride in something one possesses. Americans prize their freedom treasure emphasizes jealously safeguarding something considered precious. a treasured memento cherish implies a special love and care for something. cherishes her children above all

synonyms see in addition understand

appreciate, treasure, and cherish mean to think very much of something. appreciate is used when a person understands and enjoys the true worth of something. I can appreciate good music. treasure is often used of something of great sentimental value that is thought of as precious and is kept in a safe place. Parents treasure gifts that their children make. cherish is used when a person loves and cares for something very much and often for a long time. We cherished their friendship for many years.

Meanings of Appreciate

Some find it troubling that English is in a constant state of flux, while others take comfort in the in evolving nature of our language. To those in the latter camp, appreciate affords a welcome illustration of how shifts in meaning that were once considered vexatious may become commonly accepted. The grammarian Albert Ayres, writing in the 19th century, said of appreciate that “if any word in the language has cause to complain of ill-treatment, this one has.” Ayres believed the word could only mean what it originally meant, “to set a value on something,” and that its use in a sentence like “I appreciate him highly” was improper. Other self-appointed guardians of the language piled on additional complaints: Edmund Shaftesbury, in his 1897 The Book of Books, held that “Appreciate should not be used for increases in value.” Obviously, we have long since forgotten these quibbles – both senses of appreciate are used regularly, and nobody gives the matter a second thought.

Examples of appreciate in a Sentence

Given that scarcity and the anticipated growth of high-end wine consumption in the United States, they believe the value of quality vineyards will appreciate significantly. — Daniel Sogg, Wine Spectator, 15 June 2008 The true carnivores in your life will appreciate this gloriously formidable slab of USDA prime meat. Is it worth the equally hefty price? Absolutely. Lobel's dry ages it for six weeks and always ships it fresh-no frozen mystery bricks here-and regardless of how you like your steak done, this porterhouse cooks up beautifully, retains its juices, and delivers rich, buttery flavor. — Kate Fox, Saveur, December 2006 As a married, working woman in her mid-30s who's planning on eventually having children, I truly appreciated reading "Mommy Madness." Over the years, I have observed peers with their children, and have inquired about what parenthood is really like. — Amy Booth, Newsweek, 7 Mar. 2005 I think often of the quiet rigor of my former life. I did not even fully appreciate how much it costs to rent an apartment on the open market. — Martha Southgate, The Fall of Rome, 2002 The company strives to make its employees feel appreciated. Living in the city has taught me to appreciate the differences between people. Those who appreciate fine wine will enjoy reading the restaurant's wine list. I really appreciated the information you gave me. Your help the other day was greatly appreciated. The tiny creature contributes to its ecosystem in ways we are only just beginning to appreciate. I don't think you appreciate the complexity of the situation. I appreciate what the artist is trying to do, but I think the painting fails to do it.
See More

Recent Examples on the Web

 Omar really appreciates artists from New Orleans like Wendell Pierce and Anthony Mackie who still live in the city and are fully a part of the community. — Cieja Springer, Essence, "Everything You Need to Know About New Orleans That You Don't Already Know," 4 Sep. 2019 Quennell Dwelley, 75, appreciates that her son’s name endures in her hometown and now also on the Global Wall on Terrorism Wall. — Jerry Fallstrom, orlandosentinel.com, "Florida group’s Global War On Terrorism Wall honors vets who made ultimate sacrifice," 30 Aug. 2019 And those who embrace awkwardness had to appreciate McAfee throwing shade at his employer via Twitter for misspelling his name as he was introduced for the first time during the broadcast. — Dave Clark, Cincinnati.com, "Pat McAfee trolls ESPN for misspelling name during UC-UCLA on 'College Football Primetime'," 29 Aug. 2019 As scientists began to appreciate the importance of microbe-plant partnerships, at least in outline, many came to see the natural world as a cooperative, even communitarian kind of place. — Quanta Magazine, "Soil’s Microbial Market Shows the Ruthless Side of Forests," 27 Aug. 2019 So manager Bob Melvin appreciates having Mark Canha, to say the least. — Ron Kroichick, SFChronicle.com, "A’s will treat Ramon Laureano carefully, as Mark Canha shines in center field," 21 Aug. 2019 Users also appreciated that the Comet has a modern yet simple design that blends in with their décor. — Paige Szmodis, Popular Mechanics, "The 8 Best Ceiling Fans for Silent Yet Powerful Airflow," 19 Aug. 2019 Features such as a shapely mouth, sparkling eyes, and lush hair are widely appreciated as attractive. — Bill Sullivan, National Geographic, "Why we like what we like: A scientist’s surprising findings," 6 Aug. 2019 Although buyers appreciate having a grocery store within walking distance, most continue to drive there anyway, given that groceries are heavy to carry. — courant.com, "Smart Moves: Find a neighborhood that supports your ideal lifestyle," 1 Aug. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'appreciate.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

See More

First Known Use of appreciate

WORD OF THE DAY

See Definitions and Examples

Get Word of the Day daily email!