appearance
Pluralappearances
- 1The way a person or thing looks to other people.
Like the cover of a book: the first thing people notice.
She checks her appearance in the mirror before every meeting.
A clean shirt and neat hair can really improve your appearance.
UsageTo compare how things look, say similar in appearance.
Note
- 2The act of showing up somewhere, often in front of other people.
Like stepping onto a stage where everyone can see you.
The band made a surprise appearance at the school fair.
Her first public appearance drew a large crowd.
UsageWe usually say make an appearance, for example at a party or on TV.
Similarpresence, attendance, arrival
Oppositeabsence
Note
- 3The way something seems, which may be different from what it really is.
Like a mask that shows one face while hiding another.
The empty house gave every appearance of being abandoned.
He kept up an appearance of calm even though he was scared.
UsageOften an appearance of + a feeling. Keep up appearances means to look fine when things are not.
Note
- 4The moment when something comes into sight.
Like the moment a star pops out in the dark sky.
Everyone cheered at the first appearance of the sun after a week of rain.
Its sudden appearance over the hill startled the hikers.
Similaremergence
Oppositedisappearance
Note
- 5The act of coming before a court, in person or through a lawyer, to take part in a legal case.
The lawyer made an appearance on behalf of her client.
He has to make an appearance in court next week.
UsagePeople say a court appearance or make an appearance in court.
Less common meanings
- 6A thing that is seen, sometimes strange or ghostly.
A pale appearance hovered at the edge of the forest.
Travelers told stories of ghostly appearances in the old castle.
Similarphenomenon, apparition, sight, vision
- 7A polite word nurses use for when a patient passes stool.
Practice
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Origin
English borrowed this word from Middle French apparence, ultimately from Latin. It can be analyzed as 'appear' plus '-ance'.