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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.

At Stellantis’s headquarters, driving a company vehicle gives workers an appreciable edge, said Al Amici, a former executive who worked at the campus when the company was known as Fiat Chrysler.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 25, 2026

We found no appreciable difference between the two datasets.

From Salon • Mar. 24, 2026

The Environmental Advisor of the Defence Estates, MoD has reviewed the report and considered that no appreciable dose had been detected at the surface and therefore the risks of exposure are considered to be low.

From BBC • Feb. 20, 2026

Glass-vitrine walls teasingly appreciable at great distances, even from the grand hall below, house dense, globe-trotting displays of ceramics.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 29, 2025

During the first days they did not come across any appreciable obstacle.

From "One Hundred Years of Solitude" by Gabriel Garcia Marquez

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