appealing
Americanadjective
adjective
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of appealing
First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English; appeal + -ing 2
Explanation
The adjective appealing describes someone who is able to attract interest or is easy to like. For example, your easy sense of humor and way of making people feel comfortable make you appealing to friends old and new. If you are appealing, people want to be around you. It might be that you are really nice, or a good listener, not to mention have good looks. Actors who are appealing tend to get a lot of parts because filmmakers know audiences will flock to see them, just as an appealing description of a dish on a menu will lead more people to order it. This something is appealing, it is — or will be — popular.
Vocabulary lists containing appealing
Call of Beauty: Synonyms for "Beautiful"
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Workshop 1, Part 2
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Freakonomics
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
By contrast, GLP-1 medications such as Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro, and Zepbound are already being used by millions of Americans, making them an especially appealing area for future prevention research.
From Science Daily • Jun. 6, 2026
They have a chef in residence and an R&D culinary innovation kitchen to ensure that their food experiments are as appealing to potential consumers as possible.
From BBC • Jun. 4, 2026
Few analysts are surprised the Justice Department is appealing the refunds that Customs & Border Protection has already started paying out.
From Barron's • Jun. 3, 2026
“I’ve been told that it was inspired by tombs. That does not sound appealing, but the scent is actually quite light, not too dark or depressing.”
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 2, 2026
Packinghouse work might not be appealing, but it would pay the bills.
From "A Few Red Drops: The Chicago Race Riot of 1919" by Claire Hartfield
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
