Word forms: 3rd person singular presenttense appears, present participle appearing, past tense, past participle appeared
1. link verb [no cont]
If you say that something appearsto be the way you describe it, you are reporting what you believe or what you have been told, though you cannot be sure it is true.
[vagueness]
There appears to be increasing support for the leadership to take a more aggressivestance. [VERB to-infinitive]
The aircraft appears to have crashed near Katmandu. [VERB to-infinitive]
It appears that some missiles have been moved. [VERB that]
It appears unlikely that the U.N. would consider making such a move. [VERB adjective]
The presidency is beginning to appear a political irrelevance. [VERB noun]
Nine months later, those talks appear as distant as ever. [VERB adjective]
He appeared willing to reach an agreement. [VERB adjective]
Synonyms: seem, be clear, be obvious, be evident More Synonyms of appear
2. link verb [no cont]
If someone or something appears to have a particular quality or characteristic, they give the impression of having that quality or characteristic.
She did her best to appear more self-assured than she felt. [VERB adjective]
He is anxious to appear a gentleman. [VERB noun]
Under stress these people will appear to be superficial, over-eager and manipulative. [VERB to-infinitive]
Synonyms: look (like or as if), seem, occur, look to be More Synonyms of appear
3. verb
When someone or something appears, they move into a position where you can see them.
A woman appeared at the far end of the street. [VERB]
Last night some of the prisoners appeared on the roof. [VERB]
[Also thereV n]
Synonyms: come into view, emerge, occur, attend More Synonyms of appear
4. verb
When something new appears, it begins to exist or reaches a stage of development where its existence can be noticed.
...small white flowers which appear in early summer. [VERB]
Slogans have appeared on walls around the city. [VERB]
...a test which can reveal infection at an early stage, before symptoms appear. [VERB]
[Also thereV n]
5. verb
When something such as a book appears, it is published or becomes available for people to buy.
This is a story based in fact, though few knew about the match before this book appeared. [VERB]
...a poem which appeared in his last collection of verse. [VERB]
Synonyms: come into being, come out, be published, be developed More Synonyms of appear
6. verb
When someone appearsin something such as a play, a show, or a television programme, they take part in it.
Jill Bennett appeared in several of his plays. [VERB + in]
Student leaders appeared on television to ask for calm. [VERB + on]
[Also V + at]
Synonyms: perform, play, act, enter More Synonyms of appear
7. verb
When someone appearsbefore a court of law or before an official committee, they go there in order to answer charges or to give information as a witness.
Two other executives appeared at Worthing Magistrates' Court charged with tax fraud. [V + at/in]
The American will appear before members of the disciplinary committee at PortmanSquare. [V + before]
appear in British English
(əˈpɪə)
verb(intransitive)
1.
to come into sight or view
2. (copula; may take an infinitive)
to seem or look
the evidence appears to support you
3.
to be plain or clear, as after further evidence, etc
it appears you were correct after all
4.
to develop or come into being; occur
faults appeared during testing
5.
to become publicly available; be published
his biography appeared last month
6.
to perform or act
she has appeared in many London productions
7.
to be present in court before a magistrate or judge
he appeared on two charges of theft
Word origin
C13: from Old French aparoir, from Latin appārēre to become visible, attend upon, from pārēre to appear
appear in American English
(əˈpɪr)
verb intransitive
1.
to come into sight
2.
to come into being
freckles appear on his face every summer
3.
to become understood or apparent
it appears he's right
4.
to seem; look
to appear to be in good health
5.
to present oneself formally, as in court
6.
to come before the public
he will appear in Hamlet
7.
to be published
the magazine appears monthly
Word origin
ME aperen < OFr aparoir < L apparere < ad-, to + perere, to come forth, be visible; akin to Gr peparein, to display
Examples of 'appear' in a sentence
appear
Last month he appeared to dismiss the possibility of its return.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
Early results appear to show staggering progress on inherited conditions such as liver disease and muscular dystrophy.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
They were remanded in custody to appear before crown court judges next week.
The Sun (2016)
Her last column will appear this month although she will continue to contribute to a podcast.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
But last September she appeared to be struggling with online bullying.
The Sun (2017)
Much of his surgical apparatus appeared to come from Homebase.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The first tanks appeared at the beginning of June.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The first catkins could appear in early December.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
On the face of it, the move appeared to be a disaster for May.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
They seem very good at not appearing anxious.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
He will appear in court this morning.
The Sun (2013)
The move appears to confirm the suspicions of industry insiders that the job was too big.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
They were bailed to appear next month at crown court.
The Sun (2011)
The barren stems appear in early summer after the fertile ones.
Thompkins, Peter, Bird, Christopher Secrets of the Soil (1990)
The airport consultative committee equally appears little interested in noise.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
The hackers sent emails to bank employees that appeared to come from a colleague.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
At this stage it would appear all the packages have been sent by the same person.
The Sun (2007)
He was interested in others generally and anxious not to appear detached from the rest of society.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
He will appear in court again next month.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
The first major test of the new devolved system appeared within three months.
Thompson, Sir Peter Sharing the Success - the story of NFC (1990)
Early neglect appears to affect behaviour most.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
An invitation to appear before the committee again looks likely.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
But the sense of being part of a shared social project appeared to come easily.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Four men suspected of the murder appeared in court yesterday.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
We are also rather anxious not to appear to be approaching individuals of one party rather than another.
Cockett, Richard Thinking the Unthinkable (1994)
She set up her own advisory firm last year and appears to be enjoying life a little more now.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
And he appears to have given up on the notion that anyone might be interested in what he has to say.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
The diva appeared on stage lying on a heart-shaped bed with satin sheets.
The Sun (2009)
In the beginning it appears that he really wanted to win her affection, her trust, her love.
Christianity Today (2000)
In other languages
appear
British English: appear /əˈpɪə/ VERB
If something appears to be the way you describe it, it seems that way.
The boy appeared to be asleep.
American English: appear
Arabic: يَظْهَرُ
Brazilian Portuguese: parecer
Chinese: 看来
Croatian: činiti se
Czech: jevit se
Danish: forekomme
Dutch: lijken
European Spanish: parecer
Finnish: ilmestyä
French: paraître
German: scheinen
Greek: εμφανίζομαι
Italian: sembrare
Japanese: 現れる
Korean: 나타나다
Norwegian: synes å være / virke som
Polish: pojawić się
European Portuguese: parecer
Romanian: a părea
Russian: казаться
Latin American Spanish: aparecer
Swedish: uppträda
Thai: ดูเหมือนว่า
Turkish: görünmek
Ukrainian: з'являтися
Vietnamese: trông có vẻ
Chinese translation of 'appear'
appear
(əˈpɪəʳ)
vi
(= seem) 看起来(來) (kànqǐlái)
⇒ He appears confident.他看起来很有信心。 (Tā kànqǐlái hěn yǒu xìnxīn.)
(= come into view, begin to develop) 出现(現) (chūxiàn)
⇒ Two men suddenly appeared at the door.两个男人突然出现在门口。 (Liǎng gè nánrén tūrán chūxiàn zài ménkǒu.)
⇒ The flowers appear in early summer.这种花开在初夏。 (Zhè zhǒng huā kāizài chūxià.)
(= become available) 问(問)世 (wènshì)
⇒ New diet books appear every week.每周都有新的减肥食谱出售。 (Měi zhōu dōu yǒu xīn de jiǎnféi shípǔ chūshòu.)
(in court) 出庭 (chūtíng)
to appear to be/have看起来(來)是/有 (kànqǐlái shì/yǒu)
⇒ The aircraft appears to have crashed.这架飞机看起来是已经坠毁了。 (Zhè jià fēijī kànqǐlái shì yǐjīng zhuìhuǐ le.)
it appears/it would appear that ... 看起来(來)似乎是 ... (kànqǐlái sìhū shì ... )
to appear in a play/film出演电(電)视(視)剧(劇)/电(電)影 (chūyǎn diànshìjù/diànyǐng)
All related terms of 'appear'
to appear to be/have
看起来(來)是/有 kànqǐlái shì/yǒu ⇒ The aircraft appears to have crashed. → 这架飞机看起来是已经坠毁了。 Zhè jià fēijī kànqǐlái shì yǐjīng zhuìhuǐ le.