appeal
Verbappeals, appealing, appealed
Noun pluralappeals (some meanings)
Formsappeals, appealing, appealed
Pluralappeals (some meanings)
- 1To seem nice or interesting to someone, so that they like it.
Like a tasty smell that makes you want to come closer.
Bright colors appeal to young children.
The idea of early retirement appealed to her.
UsageSay the thing appeals to you: bright colors appeal to children.
Similarattract, interest, please
Oppositerepel
Note
- 2The quality that makes something or someone attractive or interesting to people.
Like a magnet that pulls things toward it.
The movie's wide appeal made it a hit with all ages.
Her warm voice had a certain appeal that drew everyone in.
UsageCommon phrases: wide appeal, mass appeal. The people who like it can follow to: its appeal to children.
Similarattraction, charm, allure, attractiveness
- 3When someone asks a higher court to change a decision, or the court case about it.
Like asking a teacher's boss to check a grade you think is wrong.
The defendant filed an appeal within a month of the verdict.
Her appeal was heard by a panel of three judges.
UsageYou file an appeal, then win or lose it. On appeal means in the higher court.
Note
- 4To ask a higher court to change a decision that a lower court made.
Like asking a head teacher to change a grade your own teacher gave.
They decided to appeal the judge's decision.
He plans to appeal the judge's ruling to a higher court.
UsageIn American English you appeal a decision; in British English you usually appeal against it.
Note
- 5To ask someone for help, support, or a favor.
Like calling a friend to ask for a ride.
Organizers appeal to the public for volunteers each summer.
She appealed to her neighbors for help moving the furniture.
UsageSay appeal to people for help, or appeal to them to do something.
Note
- 6A serious request to a person or to those in charge, asking for help, a decision, or proof.
Like shouting for help when you really need it.
The family made a public appeal for information about the missing boy.
Her appeal for calm helped settle the worried crowd.
UsageSay an appeal for help or calm, made to someone: an appeal to the public.
Similarplea, request, entreaty, petition
Note
- 7To officially ask the people in charge to change or cancel a decision, such as a fine or a ban.
If you think the fine is wrong, you can appeal.
The team appealed the ban, and the league cut it to two games.
UsageSay appeal to the people in charge, or appeal the decision: appeal the fine.
Note
- 8An official request asking an organization or authority, not a court, to change or cancel a decision.
She made an appeal to the school to change her final grade.
The city turned down his appeal, so he still has to pay the fine.
UsageYou make an appeal to a group, and they say yes or turn it down.
- 9The use of a principle, value, feeling, or quality to try to persuade people.
Like pointing to fairness to win someone over.
The campaign relied on an appeal to national pride.
His whole argument was built on an appeal to fairness.
UsageUsually an appeal to something: an appeal to fear, an appeal to fairness.
Note
- 10To turn to a person, those in charge, or a trusted source to back up a claim or settle a question.
He appealed to the committee to confirm his account of events.
Scholars often appeal to earlier manuscripts when settling a dispute.
UsageSay appeal to a source to back you up: appeal to the records.
Note
- 11The legal right a person has to ask a higher court to review a decision.
Like having a guaranteed chance to ask for a do-over.
In this country, every defendant has an appeal as of right.
In some cases, there is no appeal from the judge's decision.
UsageCommon phrases: a right of appeal, no appeal from a decision.
Note
Less common meanings
- 12
- 13
- 14In cricket, to call out to the umpire and ask whether the batter is out.
Like raising your hand to ask the teacher whether your answer counts.
The bowler appealed loudly after the ball struck the pads.
The players all appeal loudly when they think the batter is out.
Note
- 15In cricket, a call to the umpire asking whether the batter is out.
Like asking a referee to check whether a goal really counted.
The bowler's loud appeal made the umpire raise his finger.
The umpire turned down the bowler's loud appeal.
Note
- 16In old law, when one person formally accused another of a serious crime.
- 17In old law, to formally accuse someone of a serious crime.
- 18In old law, an accusation made against a criminal by one of his own partners in crime.
- 19In old law, for a criminal to formally accuse a partner in the same crime.
- 20An old challenge calling someone to a duel to defend their honor or prove their innocence.
Nor ſhall the Sacred Character of the King / Be urg'd, to ſhield me from thy bold appeal.
1690, [John] Dryden, Don SebastianHere, appeal means a challenge to fight to defend one's honor. - 21In the past, to challenge someone to a duel to defend their honor or prove their innocence by fighting.
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Practice
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Origins
This noun came through Old French from Latin appellāre, meaning 'to call' or 'to address by name'.
Checked 6 Nov 2026 · 2 facts
- The noun came through Old French from Latin appellāre. en.wiktionary.org
- Latin appellāre means 'to call' or 'to address by name'. en.wiktionary.org
This verb came from Old French apeler ('to call'), and shares the same origin as the noun.
Checked 6 Nov 2026 · 2 facts
- The verb derives from Old French apeler, meaning 'to call'. en.wiktionary.org
- The verb and noun share an origin: the noun's Old French ancestor apel derives from apeler. en.wiktionary.org