When someone makes an appearance at a public event or in a broadcast, they take part in it.
It was the president's second public appearance to date.
He makes frequent television appearances.
2. singular noun
Someone's or something's appearance is the way that they look.
She used to be so fussy about her appearance.
He had the appearance of a college student.
A flat-roofed extension will add nothing to the value or appearance of the house.
Synonyms: look, face, form, air More Synonyms of appearance
3. singular noun
The appearanceof someone or something in a place is their arrival there, especially when it is unexpected.
The sudden appearance of a few bags of rice could start a riot. [+ of]
...last Christmas, when there'd been the welcome appearance of Cousin Fred.
Synonyms: arrival, appearing, presence, turning up More Synonyms of appearance
4. singular noun
The appearanceof something new is its coming into existence or use.
Flowering plants were making their first appearance, but were still a rarity.
Fears are growing of a cholera outbreak following the appearance of a several casesin the city. [+ of]
Synonyms: occurrence, development, emergence, manifestation More Synonyms of appearance
5. singular noun
If something has the appearanceof a quality, it seems to have that quality.
We tried to meet both children's needs without the appearance of favoritism or unfairness. [+ of]
The U.S. president risked giving the appearance that the U.S. was taking sides.
6.
See to all appearances/from all appearances/by all appearances
7.
See keep up appearances
8.
See put in an appearance
More Synonyms of appearance
appearance in British English
(əˈpɪərəns)
noun
1.
the act or an instance of appearing, as to the eye, before the public, etc
2.
the outward or visible aspect of a person or thing
try to work on your appearance
it has the appearance of powdered graphite
3.
an outward show; pretence
he gave an appearance of working hard
4. (often plural)
one of the outward signs or indications by which a person or thing is assessed
first appearances are deceptive
5. law
a.
the formal attendance in court of a party in an action
b.
formal notice that a party or his or her legal representative intends to maintain or contest the issue
to enter an appearance
6. philosophy
a.
the outward or phenomenal manifestation of things
b.
the world as revealed by the senses, as opposed to its real nature
Compare reality (sense 4)
7. keep up appearances
8. put in an appearance
9. to all appearances
appearance in American English
(əˈpɪrəns)
noun
1.
the act or an instance of appearing
2.
the look or outward aspect of a person or thing
3.
anything that appears; thing seen
4. Archaic
an apparition
5.
an outward show; pretense
to give the appearance of being busy
6. [pl.]
the way things seem to be
from all appearances he's innocent
Idioms:
keep up appearances
make an appearance
put in an appearance
SYNONYMY NOTE: appearance, look refer generally to the outward impression of a thing, but the former often impliesmere show or pretense [an appearance of honesty], and the latter (often in the plural) refers specifically to physical details [the look of an abandoned house, good looks]; aspect also refers to physical details, esp. to facial features or expression [a man of handsome aspect] or to the distinguishing features at a given time or place [in spring the yard had a refreshing aspect]; semblance, which also refers to the outward impression as contrasted with the inner reality,usually does not imply deception [a semblance of order]; guise is usually used of a deliberately misleading appearance [under the guise of patriotism]
His recent public appearances have been smoother and more scripted.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
And it was his first competitive appearance of any sort in more than two years.
The Sun (2016)
This was only the second joint live appearance from the trio and their stage chemistry still seemed wobbly.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
The midfielder has only made two appearances since picking up a hamstring injury on the opening day of the season.
The Sun (2016)
He has failed to score in his last 12 appearances for club and country.
The Sun (2016)
After all it was more than 26 months since he last made an appearance of any kind.
The Sun (2016)
But he has played only 38 minutes during two substitute appearances this season.
The Sun (2016)
He was paid for the appearance through a public speakers' agency.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
But court documents show that he flew to Nigeria last June and missed a scheduled court appearance.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The men make their first appearance in court today.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
It was only his second appearance during a gruelling campaign.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
What you do have is the undeniable fact that those appearances did something to those disciples.
Christianity Today (2000)
The amount each player received was based on the number of appearances made throughout the season.
The Sun (2007)
She added that the appearance of musicians has been given too much weight.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
This appearance was strictly part of a farewell tour.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Has made an incredible impact in his first two appearances but has to keep it up.
The Sun (2013)
The episode is worth watching just to see who else makes an unexpected appearance at the party.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
So keeping up appearances is important to you?
The Sun (2012)
Yesterday was their first public appearance since the spat.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
How did this court appearance compare with the one against her mother?
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
To me the appearance does say something about the reality.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
His changing appearance only added to the perception that all was not well.
The Sun (2009)
The Argentina full back made only two league appearances last season because of injury.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
There have already been a number of appearances this year in Britain.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Her only public appearances were to award the foundation's annual prizes.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Carling Cup last week after appearances for the reserve team.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
I am in all outward appearances a happy person.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
MAKING his first England appearance in two years.
The Sun (2009)
We only ask after he made his second appearance on Sesame Street in a month.
The Sun (2009)
He claims he planned his appearance at the party conference for'perhaps a week '.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Quotations
All that glisters is not goldWilliam ShakespeareThe Merchant of Venice
Men are valued, not for what they are, but for what they seem to beE.G. Bulwer-LyttonMoney
Appearances are often deceivingAesopThe Wolf in Sheep's Clothing
It is only shallow people who do not judge by appearancesOscar WildeThe Picture of Dorian Gray
You can't tell a book by its cover
In other languages
appearance
British English: appearance /əˈpɪərəns/ NOUN
When someone makes an appearance at a public event or in a broadcast, they take part in it.
...the president's second public appearance.
American English: appearance
Arabic: ظُهُور
Brazilian Portuguese: comparência
Chinese: 出现
Croatian: pojavljivanje
Czech: vystoupení
Danish: udseende
Dutch: verschijning
European Spanish: aparición
Finnish: ilmestyminen
French: apparition
German: Erscheinen
Greek: εμφάνιση
Italian: comparsa
Japanese: 出現
Korean: 출현
Norwegian: opptreden
Polish: pojawienie się
European Portuguese: participação
Romanian: apariție
Russian: появление
Latin American Spanish: apariencia
Swedish: uppträdande
Thai: การปรากฏตัว
Turkish: görünüş
Ukrainian: поява
Vietnamese: sự xuất hiện
All related terms of 'appearance'
appearance fee
fee paid by a promoter of an event to a particular celebrity in order to ensure that the celebrity takes part in the event
appearance money
Appearance money is money paid to a famous person such as a sports star or film star for taking part in a public event.
cameo appearance
a single and often brief dramatic scene played by a well-known actor or actress in a film or television play
court appearance
the appearance of an accused person before a court
debut appearance
debut
make an appearance
to put in an appearance
put in an appearance
If you put in an appearance at an event, you go to it for a short time although you may not really want to, but do not stay .
Chinese translation of 'appearance'
appearance
(əˈpɪərəns)
n
(s) (= arrival) 出现(現) (chūxiàn)
(s) (= look, aspect) 外表 (wàibiǎo)
(c) (in public, on TV) 露面 (lòumiàn)
to put in an appearance (= show your face) 露一下面 (lòu yī xià miàn)
to keep up appearances装(裝)门(門)面 (zhuāng ménmiàn)
to/by/from all appearances显(顯)然 (xiǎnrán)
to make an appearance (on TV, in public) 露面 (lòumiàn)
in order of appearance (in film, play) 按出场(場)顺(順)序 (àn chūchǎng shùnxù)
1 (noun)
Definition
the way a person or thing looks
He had the appearance of a college student.
Synonyms
look
They've opted for a rustic look in the kitchen.
face
He was walking around with a sad face.
form
The rejoicing took the form of exuberant masquerades.
air
The meal gave the occasion an almost festive air.
figure
image
looks
bearing
She later wrote warmly of his bearing and behaviour.
aspect
The snowy tree assumed a lifeless aspect.
manner
His manner was self-assured and brusque.
expression
He sat there with a sad expression on his face.
demeanour
He was nicknamed ‘the Sergeant Major’ for his military demeanour.
mien (literary)
his mild manner and aristocratic mien
2 (noun)
Definition
the introduction or invention of something
The sudden appearance of the deer caught me by surprise.
Synonyms
arrival
the day after his arrival
appearing
presence
Hendrix's stage presence appealed to thousands of teenage rebels.
turning up
introduction
showing up (informal)
emergence
the emergence of new democracies in Central Europe
advent
The advent of war led to austerity.
coming
Most of us welcome the coming of summer.
3 (noun)
the appearance of a number of cases of cholera
Synonyms
occurrence
the greatest occurrence of heart disease in the over-65s
development
There has been a significant development in the case.
emergence
manifestation
the manifestation of grief
4 (noun)
They gave the appearance of being on both sides.
Synonyms
impression
air
front
He kept up a brave front.
image
We are financially clean but we do need to improve our image.
illusion
Floor-to-ceiling windows give the illusion of extra space.
guise
The workers are being dismissed under the guise of a reorganization.
façade
At work they hid their dislike of each other behind a façade of cheerfulness.
pretence
She was completely without guile or pretence.
veneer
He was able to fool people with his veneer of intellectuality.
semblance
They had nursed Peter back to some semblance of health.
outward show
Quotations
All that glisters is not gold [William Shakespeare – The Merchant of Venice]Men are valued, not for what they are, but for what they seem to be [E.G. Bulwer-Lytton – Money]Appearances are often deceiving [Aesop – The Wolf in Sheep's Clothing]It is only shallow people who do not judge by appearances [Oscar Wilde – The Picture of Dorian Gray]