appreciate
Definitions
To be grateful or thankful for something
感激；感谢
To recognize the good qualities of someone or something; to value
欣赏；赏识；重视
To understand fully that something is the case
意识到；理解（其重要性或难度）
To rise in value over time
增值；升值
Root Breakdown
Root-derivedap- (ad-, 'to') + preci (value) + -ate (verb) = 'to set a value on.' From Latin appretiare. Every modern sense is 'rate something highly': appreciate your help (rate it high → grateful), appreciate art (rate its quality → admire), appreciate the difficulty (rate how much it matters → understand), the asset appreciates (its rated value rises → gains worth).
Root pric still carries 56 more wordsWhy It Means This
Appreciate is the family's most surprising spread of meaning, because three of its senses are warm and human (gratitude, admiration, understanding) while the fourth is cold and financial (an asset appreciates). They feel unrelated, but the single root idea ties them: to appreciate anything is to rate its value high. Its exact opposite is depreciate — to rate it low.
Usage Guide
- Gratitude: 'I appreciate it' is a very common, slightly warm way to say thanks; often followed by a noun or -ing ('I appreciate you helping').
- 'I'd appreciate it if...' is a polite (sometimes pointed) request: 'I'd appreciate it if you knocked first.'
- Financial sense is intransitive: an asset appreciates (no object). Don't say 'appreciate the house' to mean it gained value.
Example Sentences
- 1.
I really appreciate everything you've done for my family.
- 2.
You can't fully appreciate this painting until you see it in person.
- 3.
I don't think you appreciate how serious the situation is.
- 4.
Property in this area has appreciated by 30% in five years.
Easily Confused
appreciate vs enjoy — both can mean 'like,' but appreciate stresses recognizing worth or value (I appreciate good design), while enjoy is pure pleasure (I enjoy good food). You can appreciate something difficult without enjoying it: 'I appreciate the effort, even if I didn't enjoy the movie.'