depreciate
gb/dɪpɹˈiʃiˌeɪt/ us/dɪpɹˈiʃiˌeɪt/
B2
English
Senses
0 senses
Verb
B2
process
1
lose monetary value
If something depreciates, it loses value.
Usage pattern:
[something] depreciates; depreciate [something]; [currency] depreciates against [currency]
Common mistake:
Do not confuse depreciate with appreciate, which can mean increase in value.
Synonyms
lose value (plain, everyday equivalent)
|
decline (more general; can refer to value, quality, or amount)
|
fall (common for prices, currencies, and market values)
Antonyms
appreciate (increase in value over time)
|
gain value (plain expression for becoming more valuable)
Collocations
cars depreciate
|property depreciates
|a currency depreciates
|depreciate quickly
|depreciate sharply
|depreciate against the dollar
|depreciate in value
|depreciate over time
|depreciate by 10%
|depreciate the value of a home
Themes
finance
|business
|economics
|consumer_goods
Examples
- New cars often depreciate quickly in the first few years.
- The pound depreciated against the euro after the announcement.
- Poor maintenance can depreciate the value of a property.
Learner examples
- My car depreciated after I bought it.
- Some computers depreciate very fast.
Verb
technical
C1
action
2
allocate asset cost
In accounting, to spread the cost of equipment or another asset over the years it is used.
Usage pattern:
depreciate [asset] over [period]; [asset] is depreciated over [period]
Common mistake:
In accounting, depreciating an asset does not necessarily mean its market price has fallen by the same amount.
Synonyms
write off (often means deduct or expense, sometimes gradually for tax or accounting purposes)
|
amortize (similar accounting idea, especially for intangible assets or loans)
|
expense (broader; means record something as a cost)
Antonyms
capitalize (record a cost as an asset rather than an immediate expense)
|
write up (increase the recorded book value of an asset)
Collocations
depreciate an asset
|depreciate equipment
|depreciate machinery
|depreciate a vehicle
|depreciate over five years
|depreciate on a straight-line basis
|depreciate for tax purposes
|depreciate the cost
|fully depreciated
Themes
accounting
|finance
|tax
|business
Examples
- The company depreciates its delivery vans over five years.
- Businesses can depreciate equipment to reflect wear and tear.
- The asset was depreciated on a straight-line basis.
Learner examples
- The company will depreciate the machine over ten years.
- We depreciate our office computers for tax purposes.
Verb
formal
C2
action
3
belittle or disparage
To criticize or undervalue someone or something; this use is formal and uncommon.
Usage pattern:
depreciate [someone/something]; often in negative phrases such as not mean to depreciate [something]
Common mistake:
In everyday conversation, belittle or criticize is usually more natural than depreciate.
Synonyms
belittle (more common and direct in everyday English)
|
disparage (formal; emphasizes negative or disrespectful comment)
|
devalue (emphasizes treating something as less valuable)
Antonyms
praise (express approval or admiration)
|
value (treat as important or worthwhile)
|
appreciate (recognize worth or importance)
Collocations
depreciate someone's contribution
|depreciate an achievement
|depreciate the importance of something
|depreciate their efforts
|depreciate someone's work
|depreciate a culture
Themes
communication
|criticism
|social_relations
Examples
- I do not mean to depreciate his courage, but the rescue was a team effort.
- The report should not depreciate the importance of local knowledge.
- She felt the review depreciated years of careful research.
Learner examples
- Please do not depreciate her work.
- His words depreciated their efforts.
Grammar
Dictionary form
depreciate
IPA
GB/dɪpɹˈiʃiˌeɪt/
US/dɪpɹˈiʃiˌeɪt/
Syllables & stress
de - pre - ci - ate (4 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (pre)
Word forms
Verb
- Base: depreciate
- 3rd Person Singular: depreciates
- Present Participle: depreciating
- Past: depreciated
Expressions
depreciate against
1/dɪpɹˈiʃiˌeɪt əɡˈɛnst/
phrasal verb
business
lose relative currency value
When one currency depreciates against another, it becomes worth less compared with that currency.
Examples
- The yen depreciated against the dollar during the week.
- If the peso depreciates against the euro, imported goods may become more expensive.
- The currency has depreciated against most of its major trading partners.
depreciating asset
1/dɪpɹˈiʃiˌeɪtɪŋ ˈæsˌɛt/
fixed phrase
business
asset losing value
A thing you own that usually becomes worth less over time.
Examples
- A new car is usually a depreciating asset.
- Borrowing heavily to buy a depreciating asset can be risky.
- Some investors avoid putting too much cash into depreciating assets.
fully depreciated
1/fˈʊli dɪpɹˈiʃiˌeɪtɪd/
fixed phrase
technical
asset fully written off
In accounting, the asset's cost has already been completely counted as an expense.
Examples
- The old printer is fully depreciated, but it still works.
- They sold a fully depreciated truck for a small gain.
- Even though the equipment was fully depreciated, it remained on the factory floor.