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appreciable

American  
[uh-pree-shee-uh-buhl, -shuh-buhl] / əˈpri ʃi ə bəl, -ʃə bəl /

adjective

  1. sufficient to be readily perceived or estimated; considerable.

    There is an appreciable difference between socialism and communism.


appreciable British  
/ əˈpriːʃɪəbəl, -ʃəbəl /

adjective

  1. sufficient to be easily seen, measured, or noticed

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

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.

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Vocabulary lists containing appreciable

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:

Strategy posted the most appreciable gains, rising 7.8%.

From Barron's Jun. 15, 2026

“The upsurge in oil prices is leaving an appreciable imprint on global inflation,” Citi analysts said in a note on Thursday.

From The Wall Street Journal May 21, 2026

Sri Lanka posted a relatively modest 219 after England's spinners had turned the screw on a surface which offered appreciable turn.

From BBC Jan. 24, 2026

The White House maintains that Trump’s will yield appreciable benefits in the future.

From Los Angeles Times Nov. 6, 2025

A second cold, wet hand touched Anya’s other arm, and this time she nearly choked on her own tongue, still unable to make any appreciable sound.

From Anya and the Dragon by Sofiya Pasternack

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