appearance

[ uh-peer-uhns ]

/ əˈpɪər əns /

|||

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR appearance ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

the act or fact of appearing, as to the eye or mind or before the public: the unannounced appearance of dinner guests; the last appearance of Caruso in Aïda; her first appearance at a stockholders' meeting.

the state, condition, manner, or style in which a person or object appears; outward look or aspect: a table of antique appearance; a man of noble appearance.

outward show or seeming; semblance: to avoid the appearance of coveting an honor.

Law. the coming into court of either party to a suit or action.

appearances, outward impressions, indications, or circumstances: By all appearances, he enjoyed himself.

Philosophy. the sensory, or phenomenal, aspect of existence to an observer.

Archaic. an apparition.

Nearby words

appeal play, appealing, appealingly, appear, appear as, appearance, appearance money, appeasable, appease, appeasement, appeaser

Idioms

keep up appearances, to maintain a public impression of decorum, prosperity, etc., despite reverses, unfavorable conditions, etc.: They tried to keep up appearances after losing all their money.

make an appearance, to come; arrive: He didn't make an appearance until after midnight.

put in an appearance, to attend a gathering or meeting, especially for a very short time: The author put in an appearance at the cocktail party on her way to dinner.

Origin of appearance

1350–1400; appear + -ance; replacing Middle English aparance < Anglo-French, Old French < Late Latin appārentia, neuter plural of Latin appārēns apparent

SYNONYMS FOR appearance

1 arrival, coming, advent.

2 demeanor, presence.

3 face, pretense.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR appearance ON THESAURUS.COM

Related formspre·ap·pear·ance, nounre·ap·pear·ance, nounsub·ap·pear·ance, noun

Synonym study

2. Appearance, aspect, guise refer to the way in which something outwardly presents itself to view. Appearance refers to the outward look: the shabby appearance of his car. Aspect refers to the appearance at some particular time or in special circumstances; it often has emotional implications, either ascribed to the object itself or felt by the beholder: In the dusk the forest had a terrifying aspect. Guise suggests a misleading appearance, assumed for an occasion or a purpose: under the guise of friendship.

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

Examples from the Web for appearance

The majority of these stories are making their first appearance online.
The Best of The Stacks: Mencken, Mel Brooks, Allman Brothers, and More|Alex Belth|December 27, 2014|DAILY BEAST
An appearance in even a third-tier bowl is worth a couple million dollars.
Is Any College Football Coach Worth $60 Million? Jim Harbaugh Is|Jesse Lawrence|December 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In Donetsk, there is at least the appearance of some sort of formalized legal process.
The Corrupt Cops of Rebel-Held East Ukraine|Kristina Jovanovski|December 11, 2014|DAILY BEAST
At first blush, this practice may have the appearance of legitimacy in cases where detainees refused to eat or drink.
‘Rectal Feeding’ Has Nothing to Do with Nutrition, Everything to Do with Torture|Russell Saunders|December 10, 2014|DAILY BEAST

In an appearance Wednesday morning on CBS, Bratton focused on what he called the “professional agitators” within the protests.
After No Indictment for Eric Garner Killer, Is NYC the Next Ferguson?|Jacob Siegel|December 3, 2014|DAILY BEAST
By the river some women, no larger in appearance than little dolls, were standing and washing.
A Russian Proprietor|Lyof N. Tolstoi
Arnold forced himself to accept the suggestion with some appearance of pleasure.
The Lighted Way|E. Phillips Oppenheim
A bright lamp hanging from the roof lighted up the little room, and gave it much of the appearance of a cabin.
The Log House by the Lake|William H. G. Kingston
It was one jom when she did not make her appearance as usual.
A Strange Manuscript Found in a Copper Cylinder|James De Mille
A cow grazed in the woods, which had been partly cleared of under-brush, and had the appearance of a park grove.
Hatchie, the Guardian Slave; or, The Heiress of Bellevue|Warren T. Ashton

British Dictionary definitions for appearance

appearance

/ (əˈpɪərəns) /

noun

the act or an instance of appearing, as to the eye, before the public, etc

the outward or visible aspect of a person or thingher appearance was stunning; it has the appearance of powdered graphite

an outward show; pretencehe gave an appearance of working hard

(often plural) one of the outward signs or indications by which a person or thing is assessedfirst appearances are deceptive

law

the formal attendance in court of a party in an action
formal notice that a party or his legal representative intends to maintain or contest the issueto enter an appearance

philosophy

the outward or phenomenal manifestation of things
the world as revealed by the senses, as opposed to its real natureCompare reality (def. 4)

keep up appearances to maintain the public impression of wellbeing or normality

put in an appearance or make an appearance to come or attend briefly, as out of politeness

to all appearances to the extent that can easily be judged; apparently

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

Word Origin and History for appearance

appearance

late 14c., "visible state or form, figure; mere show," from Anglo-French apparaunce, Old French aparance "appearance, display, pomp" (13c.), from Latin apparentia, abstract noun from aparentem, past participle of apparere (see appear). Meaning "semblance" is recorded from early 15c.; that of "action of coming into view" is mid-15c. Phrase keep up appearances attested from 1760 (save appearances in same sense is 1711).

Idioms and Phrases with appearance

appearance

see keep up appearances; put in an appearance.

appearance

noun

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Nearby words

Idioms

Origin of appearance

Synonym study

Examples from the Web for appearance

British Dictionary definitions for appearance

appearance

noun

Word Origin and History for appearance

appearance

Idioms and Phrases with appearance

appearance