appreciable
Americanadjective
adjective
Other Word Forms
- appreciably adverb
- unappreciable adjective
- unappreciably adverb
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.
Vocabulary lists containing appreciable
Novel Study: When Breath Becomes Air, Prologue–Part I
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Stan Freberg (1926-2015) Tribute List
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Anya and the Dragon
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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.
The Conference Board’s result was at odds with a University of Michigan survey that showed an appreciable March decline.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 31, 2026
The result is at odds with a similar monthly survey, fielded by the University of Michigan, which showed an appreciable March decline in results published last week.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 31, 2026
The surface at Seddon Park had a more appreciable straw-coloured hue, but the outcome for their Test contingent hoping to find form before they head across the Tasman Sea was similar.
From BBC • Oct. 29, 2025
“And while it’s really hard to say for certain that this will happen over the course of the next 24 hours, it’s an appreciable risk for isolated storms to produce impacts like that.”
From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 13, 2025
A second cold, wet hand touched Anya’s other arm, and this time she nearly choked on her own tongue, still unable to make any appreciable sound.
From Anya and the Dragon by Sofiya Pasternack
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.
