Appreciates means recognizes the value of something or someone, often with a sense of gratitude or admiration. It can describe noticing benefits, feeling grateful, or endorsing worth, typically used in present tense (she appreciates) or as a gerund (appreciating). The term conveys a thoughtful acknowledgment and positive regard toward a person, action, or situation.
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- You often misplace global stress on the first syllable (ap-PRE-ciates) or flatten the second syllable’s long vowel. - You might produce /əˈpriː.ɪts/ with a reduced second vowel; ensure the /iː/ is long and unambiguous. - The final /ts/ can blur into /s/ or /t/; aim for a crisp affricate with no voicing. - Avoid pronouncing /ʃ/ as /s/ or /tʃ/; keep /ʃ/ as in 'ship' before /iːts/.
- US: rhotics often pronounced; ensure /r/ before the vowel doesn’t bleed into next syllable; keep /ˈpriː/ tense and crisp. - UK: less rhotic influence; keep second syllable vowel length comparable; avoid diphthongization. - AU: slightly broader vowel; preserve length of /iː/ and ensure a sharp /ts/ ending; watch for non-rhotic tendencies in connected speech.
"She appreciates her team's hard work and dedication."
"He appreciates fine art more after his recent trip to Paris."
"The charity appreciates every donation, no matter the size."
"They appreciate the guidance you provided during the project."
Appreciate comes from the Latin appreciatus, past participle of appreciāre, meaning to value, set a price at, or increase in value. Appreciāre itself is composed of ad- (toward) + pretium (price). The word entered English via Old French and Latin influence, capturing a shift from literal valuation (monetary) to figurative recognition of worth and gratitude. By Middle English, appreciate carried senses of recognizing merit or being grateful, expanding beyond financial valuation to include moral or emotional acknowledgment. The modern sense of understanding the worth or quality of someone or something, and the action of showing gratitude, solidified in the 18th and 19th centuries as social language emphasized politeness and recognition in interpersonal communication. First known uses appear in legal and business language as valuing assets, then in literary and everyday speech to denote a positive estimation of qualities, benefits, or actions. The evolution tracks from tangible price and value to intangible appreciation, gratitude, and acknowledgment within social interactions.
💡 Etymology tip: Understanding word origins can help you remember pronunciation patterns and recognize related words in the same language family.
Help others use "appreciates" correctly by contributing grammar tips, common mistakes, and context guidance.
💡 These words have similar meanings to "appreciates" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "appreciates" and show contrast in usage.
📚 Vocabulary tip: Learning synonyms and antonyms helps you understand nuanced differences in meaning and improves your word choice in speaking and writing.
Words that rhyme with "appreciates"
-tes sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
🎵 Rhyme tip: Practicing with rhyming words helps you master similar sound patterns and improves your overall pronunciation accuracy.
Pronounce as ə-PRĒ-shəts, with stress on the second syllable. IPA US/UK/AU: /əˈpriː.ʃiːts/ or /əˈpriː.ʃieɪts/ depending on accent. Start with a schwa, then a long 'ee' vowel, and end with a soft 'ts' consonant blend. Mouth positions: lips relaxed, tongue high for the /iː/; the 'sh' is the /ʃ/ sound formed by a wide mouth and spread lips; end with a crisp /ts/ cluster. Listen for the subtle vowel length after /priː/ before the /iː/ in many speakers.
Common errors: (1) Stress misplaced on the first syllable (ə-PRĪ-əts) instead of second; (2) Slurring the /riː/ into /ri/ or mispronouncing the /ʃ/ as /s/; (3) Ending with a strong 't' or 'd' instead of a crisp /ts/ clean stop; (4) Tensing the final vowel making /əts/ sound like /ət/. Correction: keep stress on the second syllable, ensure a clear /riː/, make /ʃ/ as in 'shoe', and end with /ts/—tip: gently release with a clipped t and s, not a voiced d.
US: /əˈpriː.ʃiːts/ with a long /iː/ in the final syllable and rhotic r-less after schwa. UK: /əˈpriː.ʃiːts/ or /əˈpriː.ʃɪts/? engage cautious: In many UK pronunciations the second vowel can be slightly shorter; non-rhotic with less linking r. AU: /əˈprē.ʃīts/ often with a slightly higher vowel onset and longer vowel duration; final /ts/ remains. The main differences: vowel quality of the second syllable, rhotics, and vowel length slightly varying, but the overall stress pattern is very similar across all three.
Because of the three-syllable word with a mid-stressed second syllable and a final consonant cluster /ts/. The /ˈpriː/ sequence demands a tense high-front vowel and a clipped release into /ʃiːts/. The transition from /riː/ to /ʃ/ requires careful tongue movement to avoid blending into /r/ or /ʒ/. The /ts/ ending can be tricky to execute without voicing; keep the air released and avoid an extra vowel between /ʃ/ and /t/.
The uniqueness lies in maintaining the precise avoidance of vowel reduction in the second and third syllables, keeping two long vowels in a row without diphthonging. Additionally, the /ʃ/ is a palato-alveolar sound that requires a specific tongue blade position, and the final /ts/ cluster should be crisp rather than a soft /s/ or /t/. Practically, you’ll want a clear /ˈpriː.ʃiːts/ sequence with stable lip rounding and a precise stop release.
🗣️ Voice search tip: These questions are optimized for voice search. Try asking your voice assistant any of these questions about "appreciates"!
- Shadowing: listen to a native speaker saying a sentence with appreciate and echo after 2-3 seconds, focusing on stress and rhythm. - Minimal pairs: appreciate vs appreciates vs appreciating to feel the suffix; practice with present simple and gerund forms. - Rhythm practice: count syllables (a- pre- ci- ates) and mark stress on 2nd syllable; speak in slow, then speed. - Intonation: practice a neutral statement with rising intonation for questions or emphasis. - Stress practice: place list items as you say the word to feel natural emphasis. - Recording: record yourself, compare to a model; adjust vowel length and final consonant clarity.
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