Synonyms

appreciate

American

[uh-pree-shee-eyt] / əˈpri ʃiˌeɪt /

verb (used with object)

to be grateful or thankful for.

They appreciated his thoughtfulness.
to value or regard highly; place a high estimate on.

to appreciate good wine.
to be fully conscious of; be aware of; detect.

to appreciate the dangers of a situation.
to raise in value.

verb (used without object)

to increase in value.

Property values appreciated yearly.

appreciate British

/ əˈpriːʃɪˌeɪt, -sɪ- /

verb

to feel thankful or grateful for

to appreciate a favour
(may take a clause as object) to take full or sufficient account of

to appreciate a problem
to value highly

to appreciate Shakespeare
(usually intr) to raise or increase in value

"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

Usage

What are other ways to say appreciate? To appreciate something is to value or regard it highly. How is appreciate different from esteem, value, and prize? Learn more on Thesaurus.com.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

Inflected Forms

Participles

Conjugated Forms

Present

Past

Future

Etymology

Origin of appreciate

First recorded in 1645–55; from Medieval Latin appreciātus “valued, appraised,” from Late Latin appretiātus, past participle of appretiāre “to appraise” (equivalent to Latin ap- ap- ¹ + preti(um) price + -ātus -ate ¹ )

Explanation

If you appreciate something, you recognize its value. We can all appreciate how refreshing cold lemonade is on a sweltering summer day. The oldest meaning of appreciate is "to know the worth of something": "The parolee appreciated his newfound freedom." A related sense is "to be grateful for something," but this usage can sound wordy. Instead of "I would appreciate your sending me more information," consider: "Please send me more information." The word can also be used (without a direct object) to mean "to rise in worth": "The vintage Corvette would appreciate in value over the years."

Keep Reading on Vocabulary.com

Vocabulary lists containing appreciate

List 4

Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!

"Icarus's Flight," Vocabulary from the poem

Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!

Because of Winn-Dixie

Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!

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.

Social Security is the backbone of the retirement system, and Americans know and appreciate that.

From MarketWatch • Jul. 1, 2026

Many fans have latched on to the idea that Swift would appreciate the symbolism of marrying Kelce nearly three years to the day since she met her future husband.

From BBC • Jul. 1, 2026

At the Rick Owens show, Rick-heads made minimal weather-restrictive tweaks to their usual uniforms — platforms, leather, ground-grazing garments — making you appreciate the beauty in that level of ascetic dedication.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 1, 2026

It’s important to appreciate that the students pressed for the narrowest, most modest ruling possible.

From Slate • Jun. 30, 2026

If it didn’t, she wasn’t sure Vasilisa would appreciate the attempt to charm her.

From Anya and the Nightingale by Sofiya Pasternack

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023