Meaning & use
appreciate
Last updated
Meanings
verbtransitive
To feel grateful for something that someone has done or provided.
Grammar: Takes an object: appreciate your help; often used with would in requests.
Patterns
- appreciate something
- appreciate someone doing something
- would appreciate it if
I appreciate your honest feedback.
We appreciate you taking time to explain the process.
I would appreciate it if you could reply by Friday.
verbtransitive
To recognize the value, quality, or significance of someone or something.
Grammar: Takes an object; can be followed by a noun, wh-clause, or that-clause.
Patterns
- appreciate good design
- appreciate how something works
- appreciate that something matters
You learn to appreciate quiet mornings in a busy city.
Only after the repair did I appreciate how complex the engine was.
Critics appreciate the film's unusual structure.
verbtransitiveformal
To understand a situation clearly, especially its difficulties, causes, or importance.
Grammar: Often introduces a that-clause: appreciate that budgets are limited.
Patterns
- appreciate that
- appreciate why
- fully appreciate something
I appreciate that the schedule is tight.
She appreciates why the decision took so long.
We fully appreciate the risks involved.
verbintransitivefinance
To increase in value over time, used for money, property, or other assets.
Grammar: No object; contrast with depreciate, meaning to fall in value.
Patterns
- appreciate over time
- appreciate in value
- appreciate rapidly
The house appreciated sharply during those years.
Some classic cameras appreciate in value if kept in good condition.
Currency may appreciate when interest rates rise.
Word forms
| third person singular | appreciates |
|---|---|
| past tense | appreciated |
| past participle | appreciated |
| -ing form | appreciating |
Common combinations
- greatly appreciate
- We greatly appreciate clear instructions before the trip.
- appreciate the opportunity
- I appreciate the opportunity to ask questions.
- appreciate that
- Management appreciates that staff need predictable schedules.
- appreciate in value
- The land may appreciate in value near the new station.
Synonyms and how they differ
- value
- Value is close for recognizing worth, but appreciate often adds gratitude or fuller understanding.
- cherish
- Cherish is warmer and emotional; appreciate can be calm, financial, or intellectual.
- acknowledge
- Acknowledge means to admit or recognize; appreciate includes a positive judgment of worth.
- enjoy
- Enjoy emphasizes pleasure; appreciate emphasizes understanding or grateful recognition.
Opposites
Word family
- appreciation noun
- Gratitude, recognition of value, or an increase in financial value.
- appreciative adjective
- Feeling or showing gratitude or recognition.
- appreciatively adverb
- In a grateful or admiring way.
- appreciable adjective
- Large enough to be noticed; related in sense to being recognized.
Commonly confused: appreciate or depreciate? appreciate or appropriate?
appreciate vs depreciate
Depreciate means to fall in value financially, or to belittle; appreciate is the opposite in finance.
appreciate vs appropriate
Appropriate means suitable or to take for a purpose; appreciate shares only part of the spelling.
Practice
I would ___ it if you could send the signed form before noon.
Choose one answer.
The polite fixed pattern is would appreciate it if. Value does not normally take the dummy it in this pattern, depreciate means to lower in value or belittle, and ignore is the opposite of responding.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “appreciate”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.