appreciation

noun

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

-ˌpri-,

 also  -ˌprē-sē-

1

a

: a feeling or expression of admiration, approval, or gratitude

I want to express my appreciation for all you've done.

a small token of our appreciation

b

: judgment, evaluation

especially : a favorable critical estimate

c

: sensitive awareness

especially : recognition of aesthetic values

a class in music appreciation

2

: increase in value

Synonyms

• admiration
• respect
• regard

Examples of appreciation in a Sentence

You've been so generous, and I'd like to show my appreciation by cooking a meal for you.

She's shown little appreciation for the effort you've made.

I'm not sure you have an appreciation of the complexity of the situation.

I've gained an appreciation for the skills involved in the game.

Recent Examples on the Web

Yamamoto demonstrated his appreciation by striking out the side in the eighth. —Andy McCullough, New York Times, 26 Oct. 2025

Instagram users flooded the comments section with appreciation for Salguero to step in and help foster the sense of community. —Liz O'Connell, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Oct. 2025

Raising Multicultural Kids As a Latina woman raising multiethnic, multicultural kids, Milian does not shy away from using music to infuse cultural heritage and appreciation for history in her kids. —Lynnette Nicholas, Parents, 24 Oct. 2025

To top off their lack of appreciation for our movie about teenagers where parents were only spoken about and rarely seen, the studio’s research had told them that a movie about high school kids would not do well. —Cameron Crowe, HollywoodReporter, 24 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

see appreciate

First Known Use

1605, in the meaning defined at sense 1b

Phrases Containing appreciation

• in appreciation of

Rhymes for appreciation

• abbreviation
• abomination
• acceleration
• accentuation
• accommodation
• accreditation
• acculturation
• accumulation
• acetylation
• adjudication
• administration
• adulteration