Appreciate — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

Appreciate (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

1. to have a clear idea of

   "I hope you appreciate just how much that collector's CD costs"

   similar: apprehend, assimilate, behold, catch, catch on (to), cognize, compass, comprehend, conceive, cotton (to or on to), decipher, decode, dig, discern, get, grasp, grok, intuit, know, make, make out, perceive, recognize, register, savvy, see, seize, sense, tumble (to), twig, understand, pick up on
   related: absorb, digest, take in, realize, fathom, penetrate, pierce
   opposite: miss
   near: misapprehend, misconceive, misconstrue, misinterpret, misperceive, misread, mistake, misunderstand

2. to think very highly or favorably of

   "many great artists and musicians have not been appreciated in their own lifetimes"

   similar: admire, consider, esteem, regard, respect, set store by
   related: acclaim, accredit, applaud, approve, commend, compliment, credit, praise, delight (in), drink (in), enjoy, relish, revel (in), savor, dig, fancy, favor, groove (on), like, love, adore, adulate, canonize, deify, dote (on), hallow, idolize, revere, reverence, venerate, worship, cherish, prize, treasure, value
   near: abhor, abominate, despise, detest, execrate, hate, loathe, condemn, decry, deplore, disapprove, discount, discountenance, disdain, disfavor, dislike, dismiss, disregard, frown (on or upon), kiss off, scorn, vilify

3. to hold dear

   "I appreciate my parents more than I can express"

   similar: cherish, love, prize, treasure, value, set store by
   related: delight (in), dig, enjoy, fancy, groove (on), like, relish, revel (in), admire, apprize, esteem, regard, respect, revere, reverence, venerate, enshrine, memorialize, adore, caress, dote (on), idolize, worship
   opposite: disvalue
   near: undervalue, abhor, abominate, despise, detest, execrate, hate, loathe, disdain, high-hat, scorn, scout, slight, sniff (at), snub, bad-mouth, belittle, cry down, decry, deprecate, depreciate, disparage, kiss off, minimize, put down, write off, abandon, forget, neglect

4. to become greater in extent, volume, amount, or number

   "the value of that antique should appreciate over time"

   similar: accelerate, accumulate, balloon, boom, build up, burgeon, climb, enlarge, escalate, expand, gain, increase, mount, multiply, mushroom, proliferate, rise, roll up, snowball, spread, swell, wax
   related: jump, rocket, skyrocket, surge, heighten, intensify, redouble, blow up, bulk, distend, inflate, puff (up), crescendo, crest, peak
   opposite: contract, decrease, diminish, dwindle, lessen, recede, wane