appear

[ uh-peer ]

/ əˈpɪər /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR appear ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used without object)

to come into sight; become visible: A man suddenly appeared in the doorway.

to have the appearance of being; seem; look: to appear wise.

to be obvious or easily perceived; be clear or made clear by evidence: It appears to me that you are right.

to come or be placed before the public; be published: Her biography appeared last year.

to perform publicly, as in a play, dance, etc.: He appeared as the king in the play.

to attend or be present, especially to arrive late or stay but a short time: He appeared at the party but left quickly.

to come into being; be created, invented, or developed: Speech appears in the child's first or second year.

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

Nearby words

appd., appeal, appeal play, appealing, appealingly, appear, appear as, appearance, appearance money, appease, appeasement

Origin of appear

1250–1300; Middle English ap(p)eren < Anglo-French, Old French aper-, tonic stem of apare(i)r, apparoir < Latin appārēre be seen, appear, equivalent to ap- ap-¹ + pārēre be visible

SYNONYMS FOR appear

1 emerge, arise.

2 See seem.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR appear ON THESAURUS.COM

Related forms

re·ap·pear, verb (used without object)well-ap·pear·ing, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for appear

States were encouraged and allowed to lower standards to make it appear they were improving.
The ‘No Child’ Rewrite Threatens Your Kids’ Future|Jonah Edelman|January 3, 2015|DAILY BEAST
I had the opportunity to appear on the popular Sons of Anarchy series in their final season.
Porn Stars on the Year in Porn: Drone Erotica, Belle Knox, and Wild Sex|Aurora Snow|December 27, 2014|DAILY BEAST
But on Monday, when he was scheduled to appear in court, KSM was back in his detention site.
9/11 Mastermind Is Afraid of the Ladies|Tim Mak|December 16, 2014|DAILY BEAST
They are true believers and appear to love working for the man.
Honey Boo Boo, Snake Oil, and Ebola: The Weird World of Young Living Essential Oils|Kent Sepkowitz|December 5, 2014|DAILY BEAST

But she is, in her way, holding a mirror up to nature, and objects in this mirror may be closer than they appear.
Is Bigger Better for St. Vincent?|David Yaffe|December 4, 2014|DAILY BEAST
There was abundant vegetation upon the island, but it does not appear to have looked quite real.
The Treasury of Ancient Egypt|Arthur E. P. B. Weigall
But, as it chances, I wish to appear as a man and a friend, and to stay a while.
Moon of Israel|H. Rider Haggard
I know your mother would not wish you to appear in public with Mr. Montague!
Natalie|Ferna Vale
That is, or may appear to be, true of those peoples that have survived to pass into history.
The Group Mind|William McDougall
You have some kind and winning ways, but you appear to have an ungovernable temper, which would make you impossible to live with.
The Staying Guest|Carolyn Wells

British Dictionary definitions for appear

appear

/ (əˈpɪə) /

verb (intr)

to come into sight or view

(copula; may take an infinitive) to seem or lookthe evidence appears to support you

to be plain or clear, as after further evidence, etcit appears you were correct after all

to develop or come into being; occurfaults appeared during testing

to become publicly available; be publishedhis biography appeared last month

to perform or acthe has appeared in many London productions

to be present in court before a magistrate or judgehe appeared on two charges of theft

Word Origin for appear

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

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012