appreciate

appreciate — verb

1. to feel thankful for something kind that someone has done, or to want to tell th

1.動詞及物B2
釋義

to feel thankful for something kind that someone has done, or to want to tell them so.

例句

Grandpa really appreciated the soup Anita brought over during his cold.

appreciate + noun (a kind act)

We appreciate you driving the children to school every Monday morning.

appreciate + -ing form for someone's repeated kindness

同義詞
  • thank

    more direct; addressed to the person, not the deed

  • be grateful for

    slightly more emotional, often used in writing

反義詞
  • resent

    feel annoyed about a kindness, often because of strings attached

文法句型

appreciate + noun (someone's help)

appreciate + -ing

用法筆記

Object is something done for the speaker (help, gift, time). Often paired with adverbs really, truly, very much. Distinguish from sense 4: when followed by 'it' + would/will, the speaker is making a polite request rather than thanking after the fact.

常見錯誤

❌I am appreciate your help.
✅I appreciate your help.
💡appreciate is a verb on its own; do not add 'be' before it.
❌I appreciate for your help.
✅I appreciate your help.
💡no preposition between appreciate and the thing you are thankful for.

2. to enjoy or notice what is fine in a person, an artwork, or an experience, and t

2.動詞及物B2
釋義

to enjoy or notice what is fine in a person, an artwork, or an experience, and to feel that those strengths matter.

例句

Mei truly appreciates her grandmother's hand-painted teacups from Jingdezhen.

appreciate + concrete object as direct object

Saoirse has learned to appreciate jazz since taking lessons with Ms. Rivera.

appreciate + abstract noun (genre/art form)

同義詞
  • value

    plainer and more general; works for tangible items too

  • treasure

    stronger emotional attachment, often personal keepsakes

  • admire

    focuses on outward respect, less about quiet enjoyment

反義詞
  • disregard

    actively ignore or treat as unimportant

  • scorn

    stronger; reject with contempt

文法句型

appreciate + noun phrase

用法筆記

Object is usually a person, art form, skill, or quality (music, food, hard work). Distinguish from sense 3: this sense is about valuing something good, not about grasping a fact or situation.

常見錯誤

❌I appreciate that the painting is old.
✅I appreciate the painting's age and craftsmanship.
💡this sense takes a noun phrase about something valuable, not a that-clause about a fact.

3. to come to see clearly how serious, complicated, or important a situation is, of

3.動詞及物C2
釋義

to come to see clearly how serious, complicated, or important a situation is, often after thinking it through.

例句

The new manager soon appreciated how fragile the team's trust had become.

appreciate + how-clause showing a complex situation

Lin did not appreciate the danger until the river rose past her knees.

appreciate + abstract noun (danger, risk, scale)

同義詞
  • realize

    more neutral, often a sudden moment of seeing

  • grasp

    stresses intellectual catching of a difficult idea

  • understand

    broader and more everyday

反義詞

文法句型

appreciate + that-clause

appreciate + wh-clause

用法筆記

Frequently followed by that-clause or wh-clause (how, why, what). Subject is typically a person reaching an insight. Distinguish from sense 2: this sense is about cognitive understanding of a situation, not about valuing a thing's good qualities.

常見錯誤

❌I appreciate this jacket is warm.' (when meaning you like it)
✅I appreciate that this jacket is warm
💡it saved me last winter.' — using a that-clause moves the meaning toward 'I now realise', not 'I value'.

4. to ask for a favour in a polite, indirect way, by saying in advance that you wou

4.動詞及物B2
釋義

to ask for a favour in a polite, indirect way, by saying in advance that you would feel thankful for it.

例句

We would appreciate it if guests removed their shoes before entering the temple.

would appreciate it if + clause as a polite instruction

I would appreciate a quick reply, Ms. Zane, since the deadline is Friday.

I would appreciate + noun (a reply, a moment, your attention)

同義詞

文法句型

I would appreciate it if + clause

I would appreciate + noun

用法筆記

Almost always uses 'would appreciate' (or contracted 'd appreciate). Softer than 'please can you...' and common in workplace email and signs. Distinguish from sense 1 by tense and structure: sense 1 thanks for past help; sense 4 asks for future action.

常見錯誤

❌I appreciate it if you call me back.
✅I would appreciate it if you called me back.
💡this request frame needs 'would' plus a past-tense verb in the if-clause.

5. (of money, property, or other assets) to become worth more on the market as time

5.動詞不及物C1
釋義

(of money, property, or other assets) to become worth more on the market as time passes.

例句

The small flat in Taipei has appreciated by almost forty percent since 2018.

appreciate by + percentage over a time period

Vintage guitars often appreciate faster than new ones once the brand becomes famous.

appreciate faster / more slowly (rate)

同義詞
  • rise

    general; works for prices and values without finance flavour

  • gain value

    plainer phrasing, suitable in everyday speech

反義詞
  • depreciate

    the standard finance opposite: lose market value

文法句型

[asset] appreciates (in value / by X%)

用法筆記

Subject must be a financial asset: property, currency, shares, collectibles. Direct opposite of 'depreciate'. Often paired with 'in value', 'by [percentage]', or 'against [another currency]'.

常見錯誤

❌The bank appreciated my savings by 3%.
✅My savings appreciated by 3%.
💡this sense is intransitive; the asset itself is the subject, not what someone does to it.