appraise

[ uh-preyz ]

verb (used with object)

, ap·praised, ap·prais·ing.

1. to estimate the monetary value of; determine the worth of; assess:

   We had an expert appraise the house before we bought it.

2. to estimate the nature, quality, importance, etc.:

   He tried to appraise the poetry of John Updike.

appraise

/ əˈpreɪz /

verb

1. to assess the worth, value, or quality of
2. to make a valuation of, as for taxation purposes

Usage

Appraise is sometimes wrongly used where apprise is meant: they had been apprised ( not appraised ) of my arrival

Derived Forms

• apˈpraisingly, adverb
• apˈpraisive, adjective
• apˈpraisively, adverb
• apˈpraisable, adjective
• apˈpraiser, noun

Other Words From

• ap·praisa·ble adjective
• ap·praiser noun
• ap·praising·ly adverb
• ap·praisive adjective
• misap·praise verb (used with object) misappraised misappraising
• over·ap·praise verb (used with object) overappraised overappraising
• reap·praise verb (used with object) reappraised reappraising
• unap·praised adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of appraise¹

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English apraysen “to set a value on”; probably equivalent to a conflation of apprize ¹ and praise (with the sense of prize ² )

Word History and Origins

Origin of appraise¹

C15: from Old French aprisier, from prisier to prize ²

Example Sentences

We appraise the legacy of 9/11 through politics and the news, but side effects include numbness.

From The Daily Beast

During gallery hours, he is seated at a desk, ready to “appraise” works of art as they come through the door.

From The Daily Beast

As I listen to the TV hosts jackhammering over the soft Southern accents of the guests, I appraise butts.

From The Daily Beast

From the facts given it should not be difficult to appraise at its right value the honor conferred on Sanatogen.

From Project Gutenberg

No man who has not lived on both sides of the Atlantic can well appraise Henry James; his death marks the end of a period.

From Project Gutenberg

I call them radically different because to prize names a practical, non-intellectual attitude, and to appraise names a judgment.

From Project Gutenberg

She turned her moistened eyes on Britz, who, through half-closed lids, was endeavoring to appraise her.

From Project Gutenberg

How much of this effort was voluntary and how much of it was forced it is difficult to appraise.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• apprize
• assess
• audit
• calculate
• check out
• evaluate
• examine
• gauge
• inspect
• peg