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verb A2 Elementary Very common

appear

uh-PEER

Appear (verb) means to come into view; to become visible. Example: “A rainbow appeared after the storm passed.”

verb
1
To come into view; to become visible.
"A rainbow appeared after the storm passed."
"He appeared at the door just as we were about to leave."
2
To seem or give the impression of being a certain way.
"She appeared calm despite the chaos around her."
3
To perform or take part publicly, as in a show, court case, or event.
"He is set to appear in court next Tuesday."

How to use appear

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishTo become visible, to seem a certain way, or to show up somewhere officially or publicly.

Common pairings
appear in court appear on screen appear to be

Word forms

appeared past tense, appear plural, appeared plural, appears singular, appear singular, appeared singular, appearest singular, appearedst singular, appeareth singular

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Test yourself on “appear” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

A rainbow _____ after the storm passed.

Etymology

From Latin apparere, "to appear," from ad- ("to") plus parere ("to come forth, be visible").

Origin: Latin

emerge surface show up come into view become visible turn up arise come forth forthcome heave in sight heave in view heave into sight

Antonyms

Related words

Rhymes for appear

See all rhymes for appear →

Frequently asked questions

What does “appear” mean?

The word “appear” means to come into view; to become visible. In plain terms, to become visible, to seem a certain way, or to show up somewhere officially or publicly.

How do you pronounce “appear”?

“Appear” is pronounced uh-PEER (/əˈpɪɹ/ in IPA).

How do you use “appear” in a sentence?

Here is “appear” used in a sentence: “A rainbow appeared after the storm passed.”

What is another word for “appear”?

Words with a similar meaning to “appear” include come forth, forthcome, heave in sight, heave in view, heave into sight and heave into view.

What is the opposite of “appear”?

The opposite of “appear” — its antonyms — are disappear and vanish.

What part of speech is “appear”?

“Appear” is a verb.

Where does the word “appear” come from?

The word “appear” comes from Latin. From Latin apparere, "to appear," from ad- ("to") plus parere ("to come forth, be visible").

Is “appear” a common word?

“Appear” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.

What is the difference between appear and disappear?

They are opposites. To appear is to come into view or become visible, while to disappear is to go out of view or stop being visible. Stars appear at dusk and disappear at dawn. The prefix 'dis-' simply reverses the meaning of the original verb.

What is the difference between 'appear' meaning to come into view and 'appear' meaning to seem?

'Appear' has two common senses. One is physical — to come into view, as in 'a figure appeared in the doorway.' The other means to seem or give an impression, as in 'she appears tired.' Context makes clear whether something is becoming visible or simply seeming a certain way.

What is the opposite of appear?

The clearest opposites are disappear and vanish, both meaning to pass out of sight. 'Fade' works when something gradually grows fainter until it is gone. Each reverses the sense of coming into view, describing something that leaves our sight rather than entering it.

What is an example of 'appear' meaning to come into view?

You could say 'the sun appeared over the hills,' 'a message appeared on the screen,' or 'buds appear on the trees in spring.' In each case something that was not visible before becomes visible, coming into sight where there had been nothing to see.

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