appearance
/əˈpɪər(ə)ns
/noun
1The way that someone or something looks: she checked her appearance in the mirror...
- One claimed residents, some of the most desperate of the homeless on the city streets, have already noticeably improved in appearance and health.
- Over the last fifteen years the quality of stock cabinets has vastly improved in appearance, detailing and durability.
- However, up to one in 20 women are left with red, thick or painful scars that can takes years to improve in appearance.
Synonyms
look(s), air, aspect, mien, outward form
1.1An impression given by someone or something: she read it with every appearance of interest...
- It is often said that one should not judge by appearances and I whole-heartedly agree.
- Don't judge by appearances, these can be deceiving, follow your heart and you cannot go far wrong!
- The other is that, when it comes to assessing the behaviour of princes, even the shrewdest observers are largely condemned to judge by appearances.
Synonyms
impression, air, (outward) show, image;
semblance, facade, veneer, guise, pretence, front, illusion
2An act of performing or participating in a public event: he is well known for his television appearances...
- The pair are rarely pictured together and avoid joint appearances at public events.
- Like it or not, his role requires some public appearances at important events.
- Television appearances, charity events and photo-shoots have often crowded her schedule.
3An act of arriving or becoming visible: the sudden appearance of her daughter startled her...
- The lack of, and in certain cases, the complete absence of gender equality in our own homes makes its visible appearance in our daily routine.
- Kat hadn't realized that she had arrived home, and was shocked at her sudden appearance.
- After the deed is done, the time has arrived for the appearance of the detective.
Synonyms
arrival, advent, coming, coming into view, emergence, materialization, surfacing
3.1A process of coming into existence or use: the appearance of the railway...
- The first stage of the healing process is the appearance of the sickness.
- As we age, we most often gauge this process by the appearance of fine and deep wrinkles.
- Such a system appears to have come into existence only after the Mississippian emergence and the appearance of chiefs.
Synonyms
occurrence, manifestation, development
Phrases
keep up appearances
make (or put in) an appearance
to (or by) all appearances
Origin
Late Middle English: from Old French aparance, aparence, from late Latin apparentia, from Latin apparere (see appear).