Basic Details
Word: Depreciate
Part of Speech: Verb
Meaning: To lose value over time, or to make something lose value.
Synonyms: decline, fall, drop, devalue
Antonyms: appreciate, rise
Sounds like: deprecate (to say that you disapprove of something)
How to Spell Depreciate
Syllables: de - pre - ci - ate
Tricky part: The middle is preci, with an e after pr and an i after c. The sh sound is written ci, not sh or ti.
Watch out for: depriciate, depreshiate, depreceate
Memory tip: Depreciate is the opposite of appreciate. Swap ap for de and keep everything else, preci-ate, the same.
Usage Examples
Example 1: A new car starts to depreciate the moment it leaves the showroom.
Example 2: Phones depreciate quickly because newer models come out every year.
Example 3: If the rupee depreciates, imported goods become costlier.
Fun Fact
Depreciate comes from Latin pretium, price, the same root that gives precious and price.
Practise the CREST Way
Word Connection
Choose the antonym of the word depreciate as used in the sentence:
Land in a growing city rarely seems to depreciate in value.
a) decline
b) appreciate
c) fall
d) drop
Show answer
b) appreciate. When something appreciates, its value goes up, the reverse of depreciating.
Word Cookie
Find the extra letter in the word:
deppreciate
a) i
b) r
c) p
d) c
Show answer
c) p. There is only one p, as in appreciate after you take away ap.
Mingle-Mangle
Unjumble the letters in the sentence to form a meaningful word:
Most gadgets icdeeaterp in value within a year of purchase.
a) desecrate
b) depreciate
c) appreciate
d) deprecate
Show answer
b) depreciate. The ten letters include a d, an i and a single p, which only depreciate uses.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. Which of these usually depreciates over time?
a) a gold coin
b) a rare stamp
c) an old mobile phone
d) a famous painting
Show answer
c) an old mobile phone
2. If the rupee depreciates against the dollar, one dollar will buy ____.
a) fewer rupees than before
b) the same number of rupees
c) no rupees at all
d) more rupees than before
Show answer
d) more rupees than before
