appear

[uh-peer]

verb (used without object)

1. to come into sight; become visible.

   A man suddenly appeared in the doorway.

   Synonyms: arise, emerge

2. to have the appearance of being; seem; look.

   to appear wise.

3. to be obvious or easily perceived; be clear or made clear by evidence.

   It appears to me that you are right.

4. to come or be placed before the public; be published.

   Her biography appeared last year.

5. to perform publicly, as in a play, dance, etc..

   He appeared as the king in the play.

6. to attend or be present, especially to arrive late or stay but a short time.

   He appeared at the party but left quickly.

7. to come into being; be created, invented, or developed.

   Speech appears in the child's first or second year.

8. Law.,  to come formally, especially as a party or counsel, to a proceeding before a tribunal, authority, etc.

appear

/ əˈpɪə /

verb

1. to come into sight or view

2. (copula; may take an infinitive) to seem or look

   the evidence appears to support you

3. to be plain or clear, as after further evidence, etc

   it appears you were correct after all

4. to develop or come into being; occur

   faults appeared during testing

5. to become publicly available; be published

   his biography appeared last month

6. to perform or act

   he has appeared in many London productions

7. to be present in court before a magistrate or judge

   he appeared on two charges of theft

Other Word Forms

• reappear verb (used without object)
• well-appearing adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of appear¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English ap(p)eren, from Anglo-French, Old French aper-, tonic stem of apare(i)r, apparoir, from Latin appārēre “to be seen, appear,” equivalent to ap- ap- ¹ ( def. ) + pārēre “to be visible”

Word History and Origins

Origin of appear¹

C13: from Old French aparoir, from Latin appārēre to become visible, attend upon, from pārēre to appear

Synonym Study

See seem.

Example Sentences

“This appears to be an unfortunate medical episode, and our thoughts go out the family,” Sutter wrote.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Sanders stays on the move, with his walking appearing a bit more labored as practice continues.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

When police first approached the home, it appeared that there was no one there, he said.

Read more on BBC

Mr Comey appeared in good spirits as he entered the courtroom on Wednesday, chatting with his attorneys and making jokes.

Read more on BBC

The couple's eldest son, 26-year-old Brooklyn, gets a few mentions in the show and appears briefly.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• arrive 
• come 
• come out 
• crop up 
• develop 
• emerge 
• materialize 
• occur 
• pop up 
• present 
• show 
• show up 
• surface 
• turn out 
• turn up