Meaning & use
being appreciative
Last updated
Meaning
phrasefixed phrase
the act of showing or feeling gratitude and thankfulness for something.
Grammar: Used as a noun phrase: 'Being appreciative is important.' It often follows 'of' when you mention what you are grateful for: 'being appreciative of help'.
Patterns
- being appreciative of something
- being appreciative to someone
- being appreciative that ...
Being appreciative of your friends' support can strengthen your relationships.
She showed she was being appreciative by sending a thank-you note.
Being appreciative doesn't cost anything but means a lot.
Common combinations
- being appreciative of
- He is always being appreciative of the small things in life.
- being appreciative to someone
- Being appreciative to your parents shows good manners.
- being appreciative that
- I am being appreciative that you helped me.
Synonyms and how they differ
- grateful
- Very similar, but 'grateful' is an adjective; 'being appreciative' is a phrase focusing on the state.
- thankful
- Often used in religious or formal contexts; 'appreciative' is more general.
Opposites
Word family
- appreciate verb
- To recognize the good qualities of something or to be grateful for it.
- appreciation noun
- The feeling of being grateful or the act of recognizing value.
- appreciatively adverb
- In a way that shows gratitude or recognition.
Commonly confused: being appreciative or appreciable?
being appreciative vs appreciable
Means 'large enough to be noticed'; not related to gratitude.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'being appreciative' correctly?
Choose one answer.
The correct preposition after 'appreciative' is 'of' when talking about what you are grateful for. 'For' is sometimes used but less standard; 'to' is used for people, not things; 'with' is not used here.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “being appreciative”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.