appreciation
Americannoun
-
gratitude; thankful recognition.
They showed their appreciation by giving him a gold watch.
-
the act of estimating the qualities of things and giving them their proper value.
-
clear perception or recognition, especially of aesthetic quality.
a course in art appreciation.
-
an increase or rise in the value of property, goods, etc.
-
critical notice; evaluation; opinion, as of a situation, person, etc.
-
a critique or written evaluation, especially when favorable.
noun
-
thanks or gratitude
-
assessment of the true worth or value of persons or things
-
perceptive recognition of qualities, as in art
-
an increase in value, as of goods or property
-
a written review of a book, etc, esp when favourable
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of appreciation
First recorded in 1600–10; earlier appretiation, from French appréciation, from Late Latin appretiātiō “appraisal, valuation”; equivalent to appreciate + -ion
Explanation
When you have an appreciation for something, you can see and truly understand its good qualities. One way to show your appreciation for a particularly wonderful musical performance is to give a standing ovation when it's over. A slightly different kind of appreciation is having good taste or the ability to see aesthetic beauty in something, like members of a wine appreciation group or the teacher of a music appreciation class. There's also the appreciation that means a rise in monetary value — you might refer to the appreciation of the value of a house, for example.
Vocabulary lists containing appreciation
The SAT: Words to Capture Tone, List 1
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!
The New SAT: Words to Capture Tone
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!
May Vocabulary Words
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.
Liverpool said in a statement that Konate "will depart with our gratitude and appreciation for the contribution he made" and that everyone at the club "wishes him the best for the future".
From BBC • May 31, 2026
Visitors walking through Dollywood’s turnstiles often come with an appreciation for Parton.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 30, 2026
I was particularly curious about the members of Congress who have adorned the walls outside their offices with posters proclaiming their appreciation for the Capitol Police and law enforcement in general.
From Salon • May 29, 2026
Over the many years that Hamilton Lane has invested in secondaries, Hirsch says about 70% of its returns have come from asset appreciation, with the remaining 30% coming from savvy buying.
From Barron's • May 28, 2026
Under the influence of this appreciation of his narrative powers, Mr. Struthers expanded genially and became ever more communicative, if possible.
From "I, Robot" by Isaac Asimov
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.
