18 Other Ways to Say Appreciate (With Examples & Usage Tips)

“Appreciate” is polite, but repeating it makes gratitude sound routine. English has warmer synonyms for appreciate — from deep feeling (cherish) to public praise (applaud) — each making your thanks feel personal again.

Below are 18 more meaningful ways to say “appreciate”, each with its exact meaning, when to use it, when to avoid it, and natural examples. This guide is part of SpellDict‘s vocabulary series — see also our guides to synonyms for positive, synonyms for serious, and synonyms for explain.

18 Different Ways to Say Appreciate

1. Value

Meaning: To consider someone or something important and worthwhile.
Use it when: showing that you don’t take a person or their effort for granted.
Avoid it when: the moment is emotional — value is warm but measured, not gushing.

• I truly value your honest feedback on my work.
• She values the time her mentor invested in her.
• We value every customer who stays with us.

2. Cherish

Meaning: To hold something dear with deep affection.
Use it when: talking about people, memories, or moments close to your heart.
Avoid it when: the context is professional — cherish is personal and emotional.

• I cherish the weekends we spent together as kids.
• She cherishes the letters her grandmother wrote.
• They cherish every moment with their newborn.

3. Treasure

Meaning: To treat something as precious and irreplaceable.
Use it when: expressing that something rare and meaningful was given to you.
Avoid it when: describing ordinary favors — treasure is for what feels priceless.

• I treasure the advice you gave me that day.
• He treasures his father’s old watch.
• We treasure the friendships built on this trip.

4. Admire

Meaning: To respect someone for their qualities or actions.
Use it when: appreciation comes mixed with respect and inspiration.
Avoid it when: you only feel gratitude — admire is about looking up to someone.

• I admire how calmly you handled that crisis.
• Everyone admires her dedication to the cause.
• He admires his coach’s honesty and fairness.

5. Respect

Meaning: To hold someone in high regard for who they are or what they do.
Use it when: appreciation centers on regard for character or boundaries.
Avoid it when: the feeling is warm affection — respect is about regard, not closeness.

• I respect the effort you put into this project.
• She respects her teacher’s patience and wisdom.
• We respect his decision to take a break.

6. Acknowledge

Meaning: To recognize someone’s effort or presence openly.
Use it when: making sure someone’s contribution is seen.
Avoid it when: you want deep emotion — acknowledge is about being seen, not moved.

• She acknowledged his help with a grateful smile.
• The manager acknowledged the team’s overtime.
• He acknowledged her advice in his speech.

7. Recognize

Meaning: To identify and honor someone’s contribution or achievement.
Use it when: formally crediting effort, often publicly.
Avoid it when: the thanks is private and casual — recognize sounds official.

• We recognize your hard work this quarter.
• The school recognized her for perfect attendance.
• He was recognized as volunteer of the year.

8. Praise

Meaning: To express approval and admiration for someone’s work.
Use it when: commending performance, skill, or good behavior.
Avoid it when: it could sound condescending — praise from a peer can feel patronizing.

• The teacher praised the students for their creativity.
• She praised his courage in speaking up.
• Critics praised the film’s beautiful cinematography.

9. Applaud

Meaning: To show approval enthusiastically, often publicly.
Use it when: celebrating achievements or brave actions.
Avoid it when: the setting is quiet or private — applaud is energetic and public.

• We applaud your honesty in a difficult situation.
• The crowd applauded the young pianist.
• I applaud the organizers for a flawless event.

10. Esteem

Meaning: To regard someone with deep respect and admiration (formal).
Use it when: expressing high regard in formal or written contexts.
Avoid it when: talking casually — esteem sounds stiff in everyday speech.

• She is highly esteemed by her colleagues.
• We esteem his fairness in every dispute.
• The professor is esteemed worldwide for her research.

11. Honor

Meaning: To show great respect for someone’s actions or values.
Use it when: the appreciation is deep and almost ceremonial.
Avoid it when: the favor is small — honor is too grand for everyday thanks.

• We honor the teachers who shaped our lives.
• The ceremony honored the rescue volunteers.
• She felt honored by their trust in her.

12. Be grateful for

Meaning: To feel sincere thankfulness for what was given or done.
Use it when: expressing heartfelt thanks in any setting.
Avoid it when: you need brevity — it is warm but wordy.

• I am grateful for your patience today.
• She is grateful for the opportunity to learn.
• We are grateful for everyone’s support.

13. Be thankful for

Meaning: To express gratitude humbly and sincerely.
Use it when: giving thanks in speeches, letters, or daily talk.
Avoid it when: you want to sound bold — thankful is humble by nature.

• I am thankful for your constant encouragement.
• They are thankful for the warm welcome.
• She is thankful for every lesson learned.

14. Give credit to

Meaning: To openly recognize who deserves praise.
Use it when: making sure the right people get acknowledged.
Avoid it when: the thanks is personal — giving credit is public and factual.

• I give credit to my team for this success.
• Let’s give credit to the volunteers behind the scenes.
• She gave credit to her mentor in the interview.

15. Show gratitude

Meaning: To express thanks through words or actions.
Use it when: emphasizing that thanks should be demonstrated, not just felt.
Avoid it when: you want one quick line — this phrase invites action.

• He showed gratitude with a handwritten note.
• We show gratitude by helping others in turn.
• She showed gratitude for the gift with a warm hug.

16. Hold dear

Meaning: To keep something close to your heart.
Use it when: expressing tender, lasting appreciation.
Avoid it when: the context is business — hold dear is deeply personal.

• I hold dear the memories of our road trip.
• She holds dear the values her parents taught her.
• We hold dear every kind word spoken that night.

17. Be indebted to

Meaning: To feel deep gratitude mixed with a sense of obligation.
Use it when: someone’s help truly changed your situation.
Avoid it when: the favor was minor — indebted implies a real debt of thanks.

• I am indebted to you for your guidance.
• She felt indebted to the doctor who saved her father.
• We are indebted to all who made this possible.

18. Think highly of

Meaning: To hold a strong positive opinion of someone.
Use it when: expressing respect-based appreciation for character.
Avoid it when: thanking for a specific act — this is about the person, not the deed.

• I think highly of your integrity and honesty.
• Everyone thinks highly of her leadership.
• He thinks highly of the way she treats people.

Appreciate Synonyms: Formal vs. Casual Usage

Not every synonym fits every situation. Use this table to pick the right one — and explore more guides like synonyms for change and synonyms for better.

Situation	Best Picks
Formal writing / professional	esteem, honor, recognize, be indebted to, give credit to
Workplace	value, acknowledge, recognize, praise, be grateful for
Everyday conversation	be thankful for, be grateful for, admire, applaud, think highly of
Emotional / personal	cherish, treasure, hold dear, admire, be grateful for
Creative writing	treasure, cherish, honor, hold dear, applaud

Common Mistakes When Using Appreciate Synonyms

1. Using “cherish” at work. Cherish is emotional and personal — telling a client you “cherish” their business can sound odd. “Value” fits professional settings better.
2. Confusing “admire” with “appreciate”. Admire means looking up to someone; appreciate means feeling thankful. You can appreciate a favor from someone you don’t admire. Grammarly’s guide to synonyms stresses matching each word’s precise shade to your context.
3. Saying “I praise you” to a peer. Praise flows downward (teacher to student, boss to employee). Between equals, it can sound patronizing — “I admire your work” lands better.
4. Overusing “I appreciate it”. In emails, try specifics instead: “I value your quick reply” or “I’m grateful for the detailed breakdown” — concrete thanks feels more sincere.

FAQs About Appreciate Synonyms

What is the most formal way to say “appreciate”?

Esteem and honor are the most formal. In business writing, “be indebted to” and “give credit to” are strong, polished choices.

What is the difference between “cherish” and “treasure”?

Both mean holding something dear, but “cherish” is about emotional warmth toward people and memories, while “treasure” often suggests rarity — something precious and hard to replace.

Where can I ask native speakers about subtle differences?

The r/EnglishLearning community on Reddit is a great place to ask native speakers which thank-you phrase fits your exact situation.

Which synonym works best in a thank-you email?

Value (“I value your input”) and be grateful for (“I’m grateful for your time”) are professional, warm, and safe for any recipient.

Final Thoughts on Appreciate Synonyms

Thanks land harder when they’re specific. A quick favor? Be grateful for it. A lifelong mentor? Cherish them. A colleague’s win? Applaud it. The right word turns a routine thank-you into a real one.

Keep building your vocabulary with SpellDict — gratitude, well said, is a gift twice given.