appreciable

adjective

ap·​pre·​cia·​ble ə-ˈprē-shə-bəl How to pronounce appreciable (audio) -ˈpri-sh(ē-)ə-bəl How to pronounce appreciable (audio)
: capable of being perceived or measured
no appreciable difference
appreciably
ə-ˈprē-shə-blē How to pronounce appreciable (audio)
-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.

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
But that’s not what’s happening here; Trump is seeking a full withdrawal and a halt to all payments, which will put an appreciable dent in the agency’s budget. New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 25 Jan. 2025 Numerous academic studies show that statistically, there’s not an appreciable increase in the rate of tears on airplanes compared to on the ground. Zach Wichter, USA TODAY, 4 Dec. 2024 By three to six months, most patients can see appreciable volume gains. Jolene Edgar, Allure, 9 Jan. 2025 For starters, there are a few practical things that ushered this shift: From the 1970s onward, Americans began to think of homes as appreciable investments. Zachary Crockett, thehustle.co, 13 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for appreciable 

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1775, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of appreciable was circa 1775

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Dictionary Entries Near appreciable

Cite this Entry

“Appreciable.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/appreciable. Accessed 6 Feb. 2025.

Kids Definition

appreciable

adjective
: large enough to be noticed or measured
no appreciable difference
appreciably adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on appreciable

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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