WordCodex

appear

appear - English

Alternative forms

Pronunciation

  • (Received Pronunciation) IPA: /əˈpɪə/
  • (Scotland) IPA: /əˈpiːɹ/

Verb

appear (third-person singular simple present appears, present participle appearing, simple past and past participle appeared)

  1. (intransitive) To come or be in sight; to be in view; to become visible.
  2. (intransitive) To come before the public.
    • A great writer appeared at that time.
  3. (intransitive) To stand in presence of some authority, tribunal, or superior person, to answer a charge, plead a cause, etc.; to present oneself as a party or advocate before a court, or as a person to be tried.
  4. (intransitive) To become visible to the apprehension of the mind; to be known as a subject of observation or comprehension, or as a thing proved; to be obvious or manifest.
  5. (intransitive, copulative) To seem; to have a certain semblance; to look.
    • He appeared quite happy with the result.
  6. (transitive) To bring into view.

Usage notes

  • In the senses be obvious and seem, appear is a catenative verb that takes the to infinitive. See English catenative verbs
  • Particularly in the senses be obvious, seem, and bring into view, appear is a stative verb that rarely takes the continuous inflection. See English stative verbs

Synonyms

  • (to become visible): emerge; see also appear
  • (to seem): look

Antonyms

Derived terms

Translations

Meaning and Definition of appear
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