appreciated
Americanadjective
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regarded or received with thankfulness.
The spa vouchers made a much appreciated gift for the new moms.
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highly valued or esteemed.
At the conference we get to network, make friends, and feel like an appreciated part of a vibrant community of researchers.
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perceived and understood; recognized.
The relationships between increased urbanization and decreased infection rates are still inadequately appreciated.
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increased in value.
For most of the society, the appreciated currency just makes it harder to pay off debt.
Transferring appreciated securities to our charitable foundation is an excellent way to support breakthrough research while avoiding the capital gains tax.
verb
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of appreciated
First recorded in 1750–60; appreciat(e) ( def. ) + -ed 2 ( def. ), for the adjective senses; appreciat(e) ( def. ) + -ed 1 ( def. ), for the verb sense
Explanation
Things that are appreciated are completely understood, and usually welcomed. If you're fully aware of how risky it is to wrestle alligators, you could say it's an appreciated danger. You might think you look extra cute in your new pink bicycle helmet, but it also has the appreciated benefit of protecting your skull when you're riding. A slightly different meaning of appreciated is "received with gratitude," so your thank you note to your Aunt Emily could say, "The hand-knitted leg warmers were much appreciated!" And if someone talks about an appreciated stock, they mean that it has increased in value.
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.
Every year I use the “Donating Appreciated Assets” tool on the Fidelity Charitable site to help me decide which assets have appreciated the most and yield the greatest tax break.
From MarketWatch • Dec. 5, 2025
Dear Appreciated: These responses make me believe that many grandparents have been pointing their praise and compliments in the wrong direction.
From Washington Post • Apr. 2, 2023
Appreciated or not, fungi are integral to Earth’s ecosystems.
From Science Magazine • Jul. 6, 2022
Appreciated the piece by Bill Shaikin on the “complicated process” of sportswriters choosing to leave Barry Bonds out of the Hall of Fame.
From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 29, 2022
I found each gibe at army rules Appreciated fully; I sparkled when describing mules As "embryonic bully," Or, aided by some hackneyed tune, Increased my easy laurels By stringing verses to impugn The quartermaster's morals.
From Punch, or the London Charivari, Volume 159, July 7th, 1920 by Various
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.
