appeal
uh-PEEL
Appeal (noun) means a formal request to a higher court to review and change a lower court's decision. Example: “Her lawyers immediately filed an appeal after the verdict.”
noun
1
A formal request to a higher court to review and change a lower court's decision.
"Her lawyers immediately filed an appeal after the verdict."
"The judge allowed the appeal and ordered a new hearing."
"He lost his appeal, so the original sentence stands."
2
A serious or urgent request for help, support, or something desired.
"The charity launched an appeal for flood relief donations."
"The family made a tearful appeal for information about their missing dog."
"The school sent out an appeal for volunteers to help at the fair."
3
The quality of being attractive or interesting.
"The car's retro styling gives it a lot of appeal."
"Quiet country walks have little appeal for him; he prefers cities."
"The shop's low prices have wide appeal among students."
verb
1
To formally request that a higher court review a decision.
"The company plans to appeal the ruling."
"They decided to appeal against the fine in court."
"You can appeal if you think the decision was unfair."
2
To be attractive or interesting to someone.
"The idea of working from home appeals to many people."
"Spicy food does not appeal to me at all."
"The new design should appeal to younger customers."
How to use appeal
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA formal request for reconsideration (legal or otherwise), an urgent request for help, or simply having attractive qualities.
Common pairings
appeal to someone
file an appeal
mass appeal
lose its appeal
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Word forms
- Plural
- appeals
- Third person singular
- appeals
- Past tense
- appealed
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Her lawyers immediately filed an _____ after the verdict.
Etymology
From Latin appellare, "to address, call upon," via Old French apeler, "to call."
Synonyms
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review
challenge
petition
legal challenge
collection
prayer
attract
charm
invoke
solicitation
entreaty
ingathering
Related words
Rhymes for appeal
See all rhymes for appeal →Frequently asked questions
What does “appeal” mean?
The word “appeal” means a formal request to a higher court to review and change a lower court's decision. In plain terms, a formal request for reconsideration (legal or otherwise), an urgent request for help, or simply having attractive qualities.
How do you pronounce “appeal”?
“Appeal” is pronounced uh-PEEL (/əˈpiːl/ in IPA).
How do you use “appeal” in a sentence?
Here is “appeal” used in a sentence: “Her lawyers immediately filed an appeal after the verdict.”
What part of speech is “appeal”?
Depending on how it is used, “appeal” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “appeal” come from?
The word “appeal” comes from Latin. From Latin appellare, "to address, call upon," via Old French apeler, "to call.".
Is “appeal” a common word?
“Appeal” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “appeal” have?
“Appeal” has 5 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a formal request to a higher court to review and change a lower court's decision.
What is the difference between an appeal and a trial?
A trial is the original hearing where evidence is presented and a court reaches a verdict. An appeal comes afterwards: it asks a higher court to review that decision for legal errors. An appeal does not usually retry the facts or hear witnesses again; it examines whether the law was applied correctly.
What are the grounds for an appeal?
An appeal usually needs a specific legal reason, not simply unhappiness with the outcome. Common grounds include errors in applying the law, procedural mistakes, improperly admitted evidence, or a sentence that is clearly excessive. The higher court reviews whether such errors affected the result, rather than rehearing the whole case from scratch.
What happens if an appeal is successful?
If an appeal succeeds, the higher court can overturn or change the lower court's decision. It may reverse the ruling, reduce a sentence, or order a fresh trial. If the appeal fails, the original decision stands. The appeal court's role is to correct legal errors, not simply to give a second opinion.
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