appear
uh-PEER
Appear (verb) means to come into view; to become visible. Example: “Slowly, the outline of the mountain appeared through the thick morning mist.”
verb
1
To come into view; to become visible.
"Slowly, the outline of the mountain appeared through the thick morning mist."
"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.
"The house appears empty, but there may be someone in the back garden."
"It appears that the train has been delayed again."
"She appeared calm despite the chaos around her."
3
To perform or take part publicly, as in a show, court case, or event.
"The band will appear on stage at the village festival tonight."
"She was asked to appear before the committee to explain her proposal."
"He is set to appear in court next Tuesday."
How to use appear
Learner’s notesIn 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
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- appears
- Past tense
- appeared
- Archaic forms
- appearest, appearedst, appeareth
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Slowly, the outline of the mountain _____ through the thick morning mist.
Etymology
From Latin apparere, "to appear," from ad- ("to") plus parere ("to come forth, be visible").
Synonyms
View more →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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