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

British Dictionary definitions for put in an 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 put in an 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 put in an appearance (1 of 2)

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]

Idioms and Phrases with put in an appearance (2 of 2)

appearance

see keep up appearances; put in an appearance.

appearance

noun

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British Dictionary definitions for put in an appearance

appearance

noun

Word Origin and History for put in an appearance

appearance

Idioms and Phrases with put in an appearance (1 of 2)

put in an appearance

Idioms and Phrases with put in an appearance (2 of 2)

appearance