Cool MateAdmire vs Appreciate
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Admire
Top 1,000 (very common)B1verb
Appreciate
Top 1,000 (very common)B1verb
| Admire | Appreciate | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ədˈmaɪə(r)/","/ədˈmaɪəz/","/ədˈmaɪəd/","/ədˈmaɪərɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ədˈmaɪər/","/ədˈmaɪərz/","/ədˈmaɪərd/","/ədˈmaɪərɪŋ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/əˈpriːʃieɪt/","/əˈpriːʃieɪts/","/əˈpriːʃieɪtɪd/","/əˈpriːʃieɪtɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/əˈpriːʃieɪt/","/əˈpriːʃieɪts/","/əˈpriːʃieɪtɪd/","/əˈpriːʃieɪtɪŋ/"]/ |
| Meaning | To think highly of someone or something and appreciate their qualities. | To recognize the value or importance of something. |
| Example | I really admire her dedication to her work. | I really appreciate your help with the project. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | B1 | B1 |
| Part of speech | verb | verb |
| Collocations | deeply, enormously, greatly, have to, about, for, be generally admired, be widely admired, can’t help admiring, pause to, stop to, stand back to | really, truly, fully, deeply, genuinely, greatly, fully, totally, easily, fail to, be generally appreciated, be widely appreciated |
| Antonyms | despise, disdain, scorn | disregard, devalue, neglect |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'admiration' as a verb., Incorrectly using 'admire' without an object., Using 'admire' inappropriately in casual contexts. | Confused with 'apriciate', a non-existent word., Using 'appreciate' without an object (e.g., 'I appreciate' should be followed by what is appreciated)., Misusing 'appreciate' in negative contexts (e.g., 'I don't appreciate your help' can sound rude). |
| Usage notes | Use 'admire' when you want to express respect or approval for someone or something. It is appropriate in both spoken and written English, but might come across as less common in very casual conversations. | This word is often used in both formal and informal contexts when expressing gratitude or recognizing someone's efforts. It is less commonly used in very casual conversations. |
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Frequently asked questions: Admire vs Appreciate
What's the difference between Admire and Appreciate?
Admire: To think highly of someone or something and appreciate their qualities. Appreciate: To recognize the value or importance of something.
Are Admire and Appreciate the same CEFR level?
Admire: B1, Appreciate: B1 on the CEFR scale.
What part of speech are Admire and Appreciate?
Admire: verb, Appreciate: verb.
Can you show an example of each?
Admire: I really admire her dedication to her work. Appreciate: I really appreciate your help with the project.
Can I use Admire and Appreciate interchangeably?
Not always. Admire and Appreciate are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.