appreciation
Americannoun
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gratitude; thankful recognition.
They showed their appreciation by giving him a gold watch.
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the act of estimating the qualities of things and giving them their proper value.
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clear perception or recognition, especially of aesthetic quality.
a course in art appreciation.
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an increase or rise in the value of property, goods, etc.
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critical notice; evaluation; opinion, as of a situation, person, etc.
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a critique or written evaluation, especially when favorable.
noun
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thanks or gratitude
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assessment of the true worth or value of persons or things
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perceptive recognition of qualities, as in art
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an increase in value, as of goods or property
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a written review of a book, etc, esp when favourable
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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nonappreciationnoun
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overappreciationnoun
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self-appreciationnoun
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superappreciationnoun
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unappreciationnoun
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appreciationaladjective
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of appreciation
First recorded in 1600–10; earlier appretiation, from French appréciation, from Late Latin appretiātiō “appraisal, valuation”; equivalent to appreciate + -ion
Explanation
When you have an appreciation for something, you can see and truly understand its good qualities. One way to show your appreciation for a particularly wonderful musical performance is to give a standing ovation when it's over. A slightly different kind of appreciation is having good taste or the ability to see aesthetic beauty in something, like members of a wine appreciation group or the teacher of a music appreciation class. There's also the appreciation that means a rise in monetary value — you might refer to the appreciation of the value of a house, for example.
Vocabulary lists containing appreciation
The SAT: Words to Capture Tone, List 1
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The New SAT: Words to Capture Tone
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May Vocabulary Words
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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.
See Examples For:
Prasetyo said the president had extended his thanks to Perry "and the highest appreciation for his dedication over approximately seven years leading Bank Indonesia".
From Barron's ● Jul. 27, 2026
"This research has given me a renewed appreciation for the importance of preserving extant species for the future."
From Science Daily ● Jul. 24, 2026
Many bought homes and stocks decades ago and have benefited from the appreciation of those assets.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 17, 2026
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch led the appreciation for the PM, and Lib Dem leader Ed Davey also had kind words for Starmer.
From BBC ● Jul. 15, 2026
Most people agree that the appreciation of art music requires some study, careful listening, or other extra effort.
From "Understanding Basic Music Theory" by Catherine Schmidt-Jones and Russel Jones
He wrote introductions and appreciations, edited anthologies and reissues, taught in writing programs, recommended candidates for artist residencies, advised the Guggenheim Foundation on fellowship recipients and informally brokered the advancement of innumerable authors.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 7, 2025
Her death three decades later in 2023 triggered a flurry of posthumous appreciations that argued she was right all along.
From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 26, 2024
These are not mutually exclusive appreciations of this gown, but I brought to the discussion my research on abolitionist visual culture and read it through that lens.
From Slate ● May 4, 2023
Stewart shunned all sendoffs and appreciations in his final season, something Harvick told the AP that Stewart now regrets.
From Seattle Times ● Jan. 12, 2023
"One of the most delightful and eloquent appreciations of the ballad literature of Scotland that has ever seen the light."
From Sir Thomas Urquhart of Cromartie, Knight by Willcock, John
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.
