appreciate

Meanings

1. To value something and be grateful for it.
2. To understand a situation fully.
3. To rise in value. (technical, finance)

Example sentences

• "I really appreciate your help with the project."

  Level B1, Meaning 1

• "She learned to appreciate classical music."

  Level B1, Meaning 1

• "I appreciate that you are busy, but this is important."

  Level B2, Meaning 2

• "Houses in this area have appreciated in value."

  Level C1, Meaning 3

Synonyms and antonyms

Look-alikes and common mistakes

• thank : Thank is what you say to someone. Appreciate describes what you feel about something, and can be used without speaking to anyone.

Word family and forms

Forms: appreciates, appreciated, appreciating

Word partners

Words and phrases that often go with "appreciate".

• really appreciate
• appreciate your help
• greatly appreciated
• appreciate the effort
• appreciate the beauty
• I appreciate it

Origin

Appreciate comes from Late Latin appretiare, which meant to put a price on something, from pretium, price. To appreciate was first to work out what something was worth.

Checked against: Wiktionary, the free dictionary, Merriam-Webster Dictionary, Dictionary.com.

Usage notes

"Appreciate" is not usually used in continuous tenses, we say "I appreciate it," not "I am appreciating it."

How to remember it

Appreciate has "price" hidden inside it: you appreciate something when you see its price, meaning its worth.

Test yourself

Learn next at B1

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