Appreciation — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun /ə-ˌprē-shē-ˈā-shən/ ap·pre·ci·a·tion

Meaning & Definition of Appreciation

Appreciation (noun)

  1. a feeling or expression of admiration, approval, or gratitude
  2. judgment, evaluation; especially, a favorable critical estimate
  3. sensitive awareness; especially, recognition of aesthetic values

Appreciation (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. a feeling of great approval and liking

    "my appreciation of her great contributions to women's sports"

    similar: account, admiration, esteem, estimation, favor, regard, respect
    related: appetite, fancy, fondness, like, love, partiality, preference, relish, shine, taste, use, acclamation, adoration, adulation, approbation, deference, hero worship, homage, honor, idolatry, infatuation, lionization, praise, props (slang), reverence, veneration, worship, delight, enjoyment, amazement, awe, wonder, wonderment, enthusiasm, interest, passion, bias, prejudice, affection, attachment, devotion
    opposite: disfavor
    near: condemnation, disapproval, disdain, opprobrium, scorn, disappointment, discontent, disenchantment, disgruntlement, disillusionment, displeasure, indignation, unhappiness, aversion, contempt, disfavor, disgust, disinclination, dislike, disliking, disregard, distaste, hate, hatred, loathing, nausea, repugnance, repulsion, revulsion, abomination, antipathy, detestation, deprecation, dissatisfaction

  2. acknowledgment of having received something good from another

    "if you can do that, you'll have our heartfelt appreciation"

    similar: appreciativeness, gratefulness, gratitude, thankfulness, thanks
    related: thanksgiving, gratification, indebtedness, satisfaction, acknowledgment, recognition, tribute
    opposite: ingratitude, thanklessness, unappreciation, ungratefulness

  3. the knowledge gained from the process of coming to know or understand something

    "a course intended to give students an appreciation of abstract art"

    similar: apprehension, comprehension, grasp, grip, hold, perception, percipience, understanding
    related: absorption, assimilation, digestion, uptake, conception, visualization, awareness, consciousness, enlightenment, realization
    opposite: incomprehension, noncomprehension
    near: misapprehension, miscomprehension, misinterpretation, misperception, misunderstanding

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Appreciation

The most common words with a similar meaning to Appreciation:

account, admiration, esteem, estimation, favor, regard, respect, appreciativeness, gratefulness, gratitude, thankfulness, thanks, apprehension, comprehension, grasp, grip, hold, perception, percipience, understanding

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Appreciation

Words with the opposite meaning of Appreciation:

disfavor, ingratitude, thanklessness, unappreciation, ungratefulness, incomprehension, noncomprehension

Related Words for Appreciation

appetite, fancy, fondness, like, love, partiality, preference, relish, shine, taste, use, acclamation, adoration, adulation, approbation, deference, hero worship, homage, honor, idolatry, infatuation, lionization, praise, props, reverence, veneration, worship, delight, enjoyment, amazement

Near Antonyms of Appreciation

condemnation, disapproval, disdain, opprobrium, scorn, disappointment, discontent, disenchantment, disgruntlement, disillusionment, displeasure, indignation, unhappiness, aversion, contempt, disgust, disinclination, dislike, disliking, disregard, distaste, hate, hatred, loathing, nausea, repugnance, repulsion, revulsion, abomination, antipathy

Origin & Etymology of Appreciation

First known use: 1605

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Appreciation

Words & Phrases Containing Appreciation

in appreciation of

Frequently Asked Questions about Appreciation

What does "Appreciation" mean?

"Appreciation" means a feeling or expression of admiration, approval, or gratitude. As a noun, it is defined as: a feeling or expression of admiration, approval, or gratitude. It has 3 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Appreciation"?

Other words for "Appreciation" include account, admiration, esteem, estimation, favor, regard, respect and appreciativeness. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Appreciation" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Appreciation"?

There are 78 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Appreciation". Common alternatives include account, admiration, esteem, estimation, favor, regard, respect, appreciativeness, gratefulness and gratitude.

What is the opposite of "Appreciation"?

Antonyms of "Appreciation" include disfavor, ingratitude, thanklessness, unappreciation, ungratefulness, incomprehension and noncomprehension. Near antonyms include condemnation, disapproval, disdain and opprobrium.

How do you use "Appreciation" in a sentence?

Examples of "Appreciation" in a sentence: "my appreciation of her great contributions to women's sports"; "if you can do that, you'll have our heartfelt appreciation"; "a course intended to give students an appreciation of abstract art".

Is "Appreciation" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Appreciation" is a noun.

Is "Appreciation" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a C1-level word, "Appreciation" is typical of Cambridge C1 Advanced (CAE), IELTS band 7.0–8.0, TOEFL iBT 95–113, PTE Academic 76–84, TOEIC Listening & Reading 945+. It is on the Academic Word List, so it appears often in IELTS Academic, TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic, and university texts. Advanced words like this are also useful for the GRE, SAT, GMAT, and LSAT.

How do you pronounce "Appreciation"?

"Appreciation" is pronounced /ə-ˌprē-shē-ˈā-shən/ and divided into syllables as ap·pre·ci·a·tion.