DEPRECIATE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does depreciate mean? 

• DEPRECIATE (verb)
  The verb DEPRECIATE has 3 senses:

1. belittle

2. lower the value of something

3. lose in value

  Familiarity information: DEPRECIATE used as a verb is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• DEPRECIATE (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they depreciate    ... he / she / it depreciates   
Past simple: depreciated   
Past participle: depreciated   
-ing form: depreciating   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Belittle

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Synonyms:

deprecate; depreciate; vilipend

Context example:

The teacher should not deprecate his student's efforts

Hypernyms (to "depreciate" is one way to...):

belittle; disparage; pick at (express a negative opinion of)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "depreciate"):

deflate; puncture (reduce or lessen the size or importance of)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

depreciation (a communication that belittles somebody or something)

depreciative (tending to diminish or disparage)

depreciator (one who disparages or belittles the worth of something)

depreciatory (tending to diminish or disparage)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Lower the value of something

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Context example:

The Fed depreciated the dollar once again

Hypernyms (to "depreciate" is one way to...):

devalue (lower the value or quality of)

Verb group:

depreciate; devaluate; devalue; undervalue (lose in value)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "depreciate"):

expense; write down; write off (reduce the estimated value of something)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

Antonym:

appreciate (increase the value of)

Derivation:

depreciation (a decrease in price or value)

depreciation (decrease in value of an asset due to obsolescence or use)

depreciative; depreciatory (tending to decrease or cause a decrease in value)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Lose in value

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Synonyms:

depreciate; devaluate; devalue; undervalue

Context example:

The dollar depreciated again

Hypernyms (to "depreciate" is one way to...):

decrease; diminish; fall; lessen (decrease in size, extent, or range)

Verb group:

depreciate (lower the value of something)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s

Antonym:

appreciate (gain in value)

Derivation:

depreciation (a decrease in price or value)

depreciation (decrease in value of an asset due to obsolescence or use)

depreciative; depreciatory (tending to decrease or cause a decrease in value)

 Context examples 

I depreciated Paris; I depreciated France.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

To this Mary very gravely replied, Far be it from me, my dear sister, to depreciate such pleasures!

(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)

Mrs. Grant, hearing the latter part of this speech, enforced it warmly, persuaded that no judgment could be equal to her brother's; and as Miss Bertram caught at the idea likewise, and gave it her full support, declaring that, in her opinion, it was infinitely better to consult with friends and disinterested advisers, than immediately to throw the business into the hands of a professional man, Mr. Rushworth was very ready to request the favour of Mr. Crawford's assistance; and Mr. Crawford, after properly depreciating his own abilities, was quite at his service in any way that could be useful.

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)

It was a dislike so little just—every imputed fault was so magnified by fancy, that she never saw Jane Fairfax the first time after any considerable absence, without feeling that she had injured her; and now, when the due visit was paid, on her arrival, after a two years' interval, she was particularly struck with the very appearance and manners, which for those two whole years she had been depreciating.

(Emma, by Jane Austen)

I don't depreciate her.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)