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appearance

[uh-peer-uhns]
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noun
  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. outward show or seeming; semblance: to avoid the appearance of coveting an honor.
  4. Law. the coming into court of either party to a suit or action.
  5. appearances, outward impressions, indications, or circumstances: By all appearances, he enjoyed himself.
  6. Philosophy. the sensory, or phenomenal, aspect of existence to an observer.
  7. Archaic. an apparition.
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Idioms
  1. 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.
  2. make an appearance, to come; arrive: He didn't make an appearance until after midnight.
  3. 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.
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Origin of appearance

1350–1400; appear + -ance; replacing Middle English aparance < Anglo-French, Old French < Late Latin appārentia, neuter plural of Latin appārēns apparent
Related formspre·ap·pear·ance, nounre·ap·pear·ance, nounsub·ap·pear·ance, noun

Synonyms

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1. arrival, coming, advent. 2. demeanor, presence. 3. face, pretense.

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. 2018

Related Words

materializeappearattendentergetreachshow
British Dictionary definitions for put in an appearance

appearance

noun
  1. the act or an instance of appearing, as to the eye, before the public, etc
  2. the outward or visible aspect of a person or thingher appearance was stunning; it has the appearance of powdered graphite
  3. an outward show; pretencehe gave an appearance of working hard
  4. (often plural) one of the outward signs or indications by which a person or thing is assessedfirst appearances are deceptive
  5. law
    1. the formal attendance in court of a party in an action
    2. formal notice that a party or his legal representative intends to maintain or contest the issueto enter an appearance
  6. philosophy
    1. the outward or phenomenal manifestation of things
    2. the world as revealed by the senses, as opposed to its real natureCompare reality (def. 4)
  7. keep up appearances to maintain the public impression of wellbeing or normality
  8. put in an appearance or make an appearance to come or attend briefly, as out of politeness
  9. to all appearances to the extent that can easily be judged; apparently
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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 put in an appearance

appearance

n.

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).

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper

Idioms and Phrases with put in an appearance

put in an appearance

Also, make an appearance. Be present, especially for a short time, as in We were hoping the rock star would put in an appearance, but she didn't show up, or She was tired and didn't want to go to the party, but decided she had to make an appearance. [Second half of 1600s]

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appearance

see keep up appearances; put in an appearance.

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The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.