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appreciate

[uh-pree-shee-eyt]
See more synonyms for appreciate on Thesaurus.com
verb (used with object), ap·pre·ci·at·ed, ap·pre·ci·at·ing.
  1. to be grateful or thankful for: They appreciated his thoughtfulness.
  2. to value or regard highly; place a high estimate on: to appreciate good wine.
  3. to be fully conscious of; be aware of; detect: to appreciate the dangers of a situation.
  4. to raise in value.
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verb (used without object), ap·pre·ci·at·ed, ap·pre·ci·at·ing.
  1. to increase in value: Property values appreciated yearly.
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Origin of appreciate

1645–55; < Medieval Latin appreciātus valued, appraised, Late Latin appretiātus (past participle of appretiāre) appraised, equivalent to Latin ap- ap-1 + preti(um) price + -ātus -ate1
Related formsap·pre·ci·at·ing·ly, adverbap·pre·ci·a·tor, nounself-ap·pre·ci·at·ing, adjectiveun·ap·pre·ci·at·ed, adjectiveun·ap·pre·ci·at·ing, adjectivewell-ap·pre·ci·at·ed, adjective

Synonym study

2. Appreciate, esteem, prize, value imply holding something in high regard. To appreciate is to exercise wise judgment, delicate perception, and keen insight in realizing the worth of something. To esteem is to feel respect combined with a warm, kindly feeling. To value is to attach importance to a thing because of its worth (material or otherwise). To prize is to value highly and cherish.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words

enjoy, welcome, acknowledge, enhance, gain, improve, fathom, read, recognize, perceive, comprehend, understand, know, grasp, realize, regard, love, like, savor, treasure

Examples from the Web for appreciated

Contemporary Examples

Historical Examples

  • Hewson appreciated this as soon as he realized that he had been confronted with an apparition.

    Questionable Shapes

    William Dean Howells

  • Mr. Milliken was the first of Edison's masters, and perhaps his fellows, who appreciated him.

  • His voice, full of tenderness and strength, was said to be appreciated by the Virgin.

  • His death was mourned by a large circle of friends who appreciated his worth.

  • Also, he appreciated the power with which they administered the law.

    White Fang

    Jack London

British Dictionary definitions for appreciated

appreciate

verb (mainly tr)
  1. to feel thankful or grateful forto appreciate a favour
  2. (may take a clause as object) to take full or sufficient account ofto appreciate a problem
  3. to value highlyto appreciate Shakespeare
  4. (usually intr) to raise or increase in value
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Derived Formsappreciator, noun

Word Origin

C17: from Medieval Latin appretiāre to value, prize, from Latin pretium price
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

Word Origin and History for appreciated

adj.

"received with gratitude," by 1831; "enhanced in value," 1794; past participle adjective from appreciate.

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appreciate

v.

1650s, "to esteem or value highly," from Late Latin appretiatus, past participle of appretiare "to set a price to" (see appraise). Meaning "to rise in value" (intransitive) first recorded 1789. Related: Appreciated; appreciating.

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper