Vocapedia
Log inTry for Free

Looking up...

Words

  • Words of the Year
  • Recent Lookups
  • My Dictionary

Languages

  • English
  • Vietnamese
  • Japanese
  • Chinese
  • Spanish
  • French
  • Korean
  • German

Features

  • Words of the Year
  • My Collections List
  • Reviews
  • Learning Resources
  • Community Collections

Learn

  • How It Works
  • Study Guides
  • Language Tips
  • FAQ
  • Getting Started
  • For Individuals
  • For Teachers

Community

  • Forum
  • Blog
  • Help Center
  • Partnerships

About

  • About Vocapedia
  • Contact Us
  • Feedback

Legal

  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Accessibility
  • GDPR Compliance
© 2026 Vocapedia. All rights reserved.

appreciate the gesture

/əˈpriːʃieɪt ðə ˈdʒestʃər/
phrase★Intermediate💡 recognize and value someone's kind action
informal

To recognize and value someone's kind or thoughtful action, even if it is small or symbolic.

He didn’t have much money, but he appreciated the gesture when she sent him a handwritten letter.

He valued the effort she put into writing him a personal note, even though it wasn’t expensive.

The team appreciated the gesture of the manager bringing in coffee for everyone.

They were grateful that the manager took the time to bring coffee, showing he cared about their well-being.

💡

This phrase emphasizes the importance of acknowledging someone's effort or thoughtfulness, regardless of the size or cost of the action.

Collocations

appreciate the effortvalue the work someone put into somethingappreciate the thoughtrecognize the intention behind an action

Synonyms

value the effortacknowledge the kindnessbe grateful for the action

Antonyms

ignore the efforttake for granted

Related Phrases

go the extra milephrase
to make a special effort beyond what is expected
thoughtful gesturephrase
an action that shows consideration for others

💡Pro Tip

When to Use

Use this phrase when someone does something kind, even if it’s small, to show that you recognize and value their effort.

⚡Gold Rule

Avoid Overuse

While this phrase is polite, using it too often can make it sound insincere. Reserve it for genuine expressions of gratitude.

📖Word Origin

The phrase combines 'appreciate' (to value or be grateful for) and 'gesture' (an action that conveys meaning or intention). It became common in the 20th century to emphasize the importance of recognizing small acts of kindness.

📝Usage Notes

This phrase is often used to express gratitude for actions that may not have a material benefit but show care or support. It is common in both personal and professional settings.

Word Breakdown

appreciate
to value or be grateful for
root
+
the gesture
an action that conveys meaning or intention
phrase
English Dictionary

Learning Progress

Track your learning journey!

• Save words to build your vocabulary

• Monitor your daily streak

• Get personalized review reminders

• See words learned statistics

Log in to access advanced features and track your progress!

Go to Dashboard →

Words of the Year

The most notable words that defined each year. Discover the vocabulary that shaped our world.