DictionaryAI

appear

verb
Sayuh-PEER/əˈpɪɹ/UK/əˈpɪə/

Formsappears, appearing, appeared

6 meanings of appear

Practice

  1. 1
    seemverbintransitive
    To seem, or give the impression of being or doing something; also, to seem from the evidence to be the case.

    The figures appear accurate, but the auditors will run their own checks.

    He appeared to be listening, though his mind was clearly elsewhere.

    Usageappear tired, appear to be listening, it appears that something is true. A little more formal than seem.

  2. 2
    become visibleverbintransitive
    To become visible, or to be present where one can be seen.

    The first green shoots appear in the garden by late March.

    A ship appeared on the horizon just before sunset.

    Similaremerge, materialize, show, surface

    Oppositedisappear, vanish

  3. 3
    in the mediaverbintransitive
    To come before the public, as by performing, being published, or being broadcast.

    The band will appear at several festivals this summer.

    His short stories appeared in literary magazines throughout the 1990s.

    Usageappear on TV or a show, appear in a film or magazine, appear at a festival.

    Similarperform, play, feature, debut

  4. 4
    begin to existverbintransitive
    To come into being, or to be released or put into use for the first time.

    When the updated model appeared on the market, it sold out within days.

    Problems like these tend to appear whenever a small company grows too quickly.

    Similararise

  5. 5
    before authoritiesverbintransitive
    To present oneself before a court or other authority, whether to answer a charge, plead a cause, or act as a party or advocate in a proceeding.

    All three defendants must appear before the court on Friday morning.

    Her attorney appeared on her behalf at the preliminary hearing.

    Usageappear in court or before a judge; a lawyer appears for or on behalf of a client.

Less common meaning

  1. 6
    verbobsolete
    To bring something into view, making it visible.

Practice

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Origin

The word comes from Middle English "apperen," borrowed from Old French "aparoir," from Latin "appāreō" ("I appear"), formed from "ad" ("to") plus "pāreō" ("I come forth, I become visible"). This traces ultimately to the Proto-Indo-European root *peh₂- ("protect").

Checked 5 Nov 2026 · 5 facts