appreciable

adjective

ap·​pre·​cia·​ble ə-ˈprē-shə-bəl  -ˈpri-sh(ē-)ə-bəl 

: capable of being perceived or measured

no appreciable difference

appreciably

ə-ˈprē-shə-blē 

-ˈpri-sh(ē-)ə-blē

adverb

Did you know?

If you assumed that appreciable means “able to be appreciated,” we see you and we appreciate you. You’ve got a good eye for word families: appreciable does indeed share an ancestor with appreciate. However, the former does not describe things that are worthy of gratitude or admiration for their value, but rather things that are noticeable or measurable, as in “an appreciable difference between the two shades of green.” Appreciable comes, via French, from the Late Latin verb appretiare (“to appraise” or “to put a price on”), and is one of several English adjectives that can be applied to something that can be detected, felt, or measured. When it comes to vocabulary, it’s hard to put a price on having an abundance of options.

Synonyms

• distinguishable
• noticeable
• audible
• discernible
• detectable
• perceptible

Choose the Right Synonym for appreciable

perceptible, sensible, palpable, tangible, appreciable, ponderable mean apprehensible as real or existent.

perceptible applies to what can be discerned by the senses often to a minimal extent.

a perceptible difference in sound to a careful listener

sensible applies to whatever is clearly apprehended through the senses or impresses itself strongly on the mind.

an abrupt, sensible drop in temperature

palpable applies either to what has physical substance or to what is obvious and unmistakable.

the tension in the air was almost palpable

tangible suggests what is capable of being handled or grasped both physically and mentally.

no tangible evidence of UFOs

appreciable applies to what is distinctly discernible by the senses or definitely measurable.

an appreciable increase in income

ponderable suggests having definitely measurable weight or importance.

exerted a ponderable influence on world events

Examples of appreciable in a Sentence

there doesn't seem to be any appreciable difference between this piece and that one

Recent Examples on the Web

Past weather records show an appreciable shift in Kentucky’s rainfall patterns, bringing heavy precipitation in shorter, more intense bursts — and amplifying flood risk. —Connor Giffin, The Courier-Journal, 2 July 2025

The latter's use of the pedal steel guitar adds an appreciable whiskey-woozy vibe to the waltz-time tempo. —Bryan West, The Tennessean, 30 May 2025

Caution should be taken if spending any appreciable amount of time outside, by staying hydrated with non-alcoholic beverages, taking frequent breaks and seeking shade. —Joe Edwards, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 June 2025

Trump’s tariffs, detentions take a toll on local tourism April 12, 2025 There was an appreciable drop in visitors to the United States from Europe in March, after the Trump administration introduced an aggressive crackdown on immigration. —Erik Kirschbaum, Los Angeles Times, 17 May 2025

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1775, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for appreciable

• inappreciable

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Kids Definition

appreciable

adjective

ap·​pre·​cia·​ble ə-ˈprē-shə-bəl  ə-ˈprish(-ē)-ə-bəl 

: large enough to be noticed or measured

no appreciable difference

appreciably

-blē 

adverb