- appear
- ap|pearW1S1 [əˈpıə US əˈpır] v▬▬▬▬▬▬▬1¦(seem)¦2¦(give impression)¦3¦(start to be seen)¦4¦(film/tv programme etc)¦5¦(book/newspaper etc)¦6¦(available/known)¦7¦(law court/meeting)¦▬▬▬▬▬▬▬[Date: 1200-1300; : Old French; Origin: aparoir, from Latin apparere, from ad- 'to' + parere 'to show yourself']1.) ¦(SEEM)¦ [linking verb, not in progressive]used to say how something seems, especially from what you know about it or from what you can seeappear to be sth▪ Police say there appear to be signs of a break-in.appear to do sth▪ The survey appears to contradict motor industry claims.it appears (that)▪ It appears that all the files have been deleted.▪ Police have found what appear to be human remains.▪ He tried to make it appear that she had committed suicide.▪ It may be less useful than it appears at first.so it would appear(=used to say that something seems likely to be true, although you are not completely sure)2.) ¦(GIVE IMPRESSION)¦ [linking verb, not in progressive]used to say that someone or something seems to have a particular quality or feeling▪ He tried hard to appear calm .▪ I don't want to appear rude.▪ The right colours can make a small room appear much bigger.3.) ¦(START TO BE SEEN)¦ [I always + adverb/preposition ]to start to be seen, to arrive, or to exist in a place, especially suddenly▪ Two faces appeared at our window.▪ A man suddenly appeared from behind a tree.▪ Small cracks appeared in the wall.▪ It was nearly an hour before Sweeney appeared in the pub.appear from nowhere/out of nowhere(=appear suddenly and unexpectedly)▪ The car seemed to appear from nowhere.4.) ¦(FILM/TV PROGRAMME ETC)¦ [I always + adverb/preposition]to take part in a film, play, concert, television programme etcappear in a film/play▪ She has already appeared in a number of films.appear on television/stage▪ He appeared on national television to deny the claims.appear at a theatre etc5.) ¦(BOOK/NEWSPAPER ETC)¦ [I always + adverb/preposition]to be written or shown on a list, in a book or newspaper, in a document etc▪ The story appeared in all the national newspapers.▪ Some of the material used has appeared in print before (=has been published) .6.) ¦(AVAILABLE/KNOWN)¦ [I always + adverb/preposition]to become widely available or known about▪ The new range will be appearing in shops in the autumn.▪ New courses are appearing every year.7.) ¦(LAW COURT/MEETING)¦ [I always + adverb/preposition]to go to a law court or other official meeting to give information, answer questions etc▪ The three men are due to appear in court tomorrow.appear before a court/judge/committee etc▪ She appeared before Colchester magistrates charged with attempted murder.appear for sb/on behalf of sb(=to be the legal representative for someone)▪ Sir Nicholas Gammon QC appeared on behalf of the defendant.see usage note ↑seem
Dictionary of contemporary English. 2013.