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Synonyms

appreciative

American  
[uh-pree-shuh-tiv, -shee-uh-, -shee-ey-] / əˈpri ʃə tɪv, -ʃi ə-, -ʃiˌeɪ- /

adjective

  1. feeling or showing appreciation.

    an appreciative audience at the concert.
appreciative British  
/ -ʃə-, əˈpriːʃɪətɪv /

adjective

  1. feeling, expressing, or capable of appreciation

"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

  • appreciatively adverb
  • appreciativeness noun
  • nonappreciative adjective
  • nonappreciatively adverb
  • nonappreciativeness noun
  • overappreciative adjective
  • overappreciatively adverb
  • overappreciativeness noun
  • unappreciative adjective
  • unappreciatively adverb
  • unappreciativeness noun

Etymology

Origin of appreciative

First recorded in 1690–1700; appreciate + -ive

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.

Richardson acknowledges the tremendous breakthroughs in myeloma care and is highly appreciative of them.

From Slate • Mar. 29, 2026

"We have been in touch with the White House and we are appreciative and grateful for the communication we have had, but the timing just didn't work," the Thunder told The Athletic in a statement.

From Barron's • Mar. 21, 2026

At True/False, it finds a properly appreciative home.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 10, 2026

In a phone interview Tuesday, Levin said he was appreciative that Quintino accepted the invitation and that she has advocated for the Dignity Act, a bipartisan proposal to reform the U.S. immigration system.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 24, 2026

Applause rippled through the sponsors and trainers, and Celaena flashed an appreciative grin in the assassin’s direction.

From "Throne of Glass" by Sarah J. Maas

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.