Appreciate: meaning, definitions and examples

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appreciate

 

[ əˈpriːʃieɪt ]

Context #1 | Verb

express gratitude

To recognize the value or quality of someone or something; to understand and enjoy the good qualities of someone or something.

Synonyms

acknowledge, grateful, recognize, value.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
appreciate

Used to express gratitude or thankfulness for something or to show recognition of its worth. Often used in both personal and professional settings to show one’s gratitude.

  • I appreciate your help with the project
  • She appreciated the gesture of sending flowers
value

Emphasizes the importance or worth of something or someone. It is often used in both business and personal environments to indicate high regard or esteem.

  • We value your feedback
  • She felt valued by her teammates
acknowledge

Used to recognize the existence, validity, or fact of something. This term is often used in formal or professional contexts to show awareness or acceptance of someone's efforts or presence.

  • The company acknowledged her hard work with an award
  • He didn't even acknowledge my greeting
recognize

Used to identify, acknowledge, or be aware of the value or importance of something. This term can be used both formally and informally, often to show awareness or acceptance of someone’s achievements or status.

  • He was recognized for his achievements in science
  • She finally recognized her own strengths
grateful

Expresses deep thankfulness and is often more personal and heartfelt than 'appreciate.' It indicates a deeper level of gratitude and is usually used in more intimate settings.

  • I am deeply grateful for your support
  • She felt grateful for the kindness shown by her friends

Examples of usage

  • I appreciate all the hard work you put into this project.
  • She appreciates the beauty of nature.
  • We appreciate your help.
Context #2 | Verb

increase in value

To increase in value over time.

Synonyms

gain value, increase, rise in price.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
appreciate

This is used to show gratitude or recognize the value of something or someone. It can also mean something, usually an asset, increasing in value.

  • I really appreciate your help with this project
  • The value of the house has appreciated over the years
increase

This is used when talking about something becoming larger in amount, number, or degree. It is more general and can be used in various contexts.

  • The company’s revenue has increased by 10% this year
  • The temperature is expected to increase tomorrow
gain value

This is used specifically to describe an asset or something quantifiable increasing in worth.

  • His investments have gained value over the past five years
rise in price

This phrase is specifically used to describe a situation where the cost of goods, services, or assets becomes higher.

  • Gasoline has risen in price since last month
  • The tickets for the concert have risen in price recently

Examples of usage

  • Real estate tends to appreciate in value over the years.
  • The painting has appreciated significantly since it was purchased.
Context #3 | Verb

understand the full implications

To understand the full implications or significance of something.

Synonyms

comprehend, grasp, realize, understand.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
appreciate

Used to express gratitude or recognize the value of something.

  • I really appreciate your help.
  • She appreciates the beauty of the painting.
comprehend

Used when referring to a deep and thorough understanding, often related to complex concepts.

  • He couldn't comprehend the complicated theory.
  • She finally comprehended the magnitude of the situation.
grasp

Used when talking about quickly or effectively understanding something, often used in learning or problem-solving scenarios.

  • It took a while for him to grasp the new programming language.
  • She grasped the main idea of the lecture.
realize

Used when someone suddenly understands or becomes aware of something, often something previously unnoticed or not thought about.

  • He didn't realize how late it was.
  • I just realized that I forgot my keys.
understand

General term for knowing or grasping the meaning, significance, or nature of something.

  • Do you understand the instructions?
  • She understands how to solve the problem.

Examples of usage

  • She didn't appreciate the seriousness of the situation until it was too late.
  • It takes time to appreciate the complexity of the issue.

Translations

Translations of the word "appreciate" in other languages:

🇵🇹 apreciar

🇮🇳 सराहना करना

🇩🇪 schätzen

🇮🇩 menghargai

🇺🇦 цінувати

🇵🇱 doceniać

🇯🇵 感謝する (kansha suru)

🇫🇷 apprécier

🇪🇸 apreciar

🇹🇷 takdir etmek

🇰🇷 감사하다 (gamsahada)

🇸🇦 يقدر (yuqaddir)

🇨🇿 ocenit

🇸🇰 oceniť

🇨🇳 欣赏 (xīnshǎng)

🇸🇮 ceniti

🇮🇸 meta

🇰🇿 бағалау

🇬🇪 შეფასება (shefaseba)

🇦🇿 qiymətləndirmək

🇲🇽 apreciar

Etymology

The word 'appreciate' originates from the late Middle English word 'appreciat' which means 'appraise'. It evolved from the Latin word 'appretiatus', meaning 'set a price on'. The term gained popularity in the 17th century with the sense of 'rise in value' and later expanded to include the sense of 'acknowledge the value of'.

See also: appreciated, appreciating, appreciation, appreciative, appreciatively, appreciator, overappreciated, unappreciated, unappreciative, underappreciate, underappreciated.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranking #3,346, this word is part of upper-intermediate vocabulary. While not among the most basic terms, it appears often enough to be valuable for advanced communication.