Appear — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb /ə-ˈpir/ ap·pear

Meaning & Definition of Appear

Appear (verb)

  1. to be or come in sight
  2. to show up
  3. to come formally before an authoritative body

Appear (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to come into view

    "a police car appeared just as I ran a red light"

    similar: come out, materialize, show, show up, turn up, unfold
    related: reappear, resurface, bulk, loom, arrive, come, dawn, debut, arise, blossom, bob (up), break, break out, crop (up), emerge, erupt, issue, outcrop, rise, shoot (up), spring (up), surface, happen, occur, rematerialize
    opposite: clear, disappear, dissolve, evanesce, evaporate, fade, go (away), melt (away), vanish
    near: depart, leave, retire, withdraw

  2. to give the impression of being

    "it appears that he doesn't hear you"

    similar: act, come across (as), come off (as), feel, look, make, seem, sound
    related: dissemble, pretend, recall, resemble, suggest, hint, imply, insinuate

  3. to come into existence

    "the benefits of the exercise program should appear almost immediately"

    similar: actualize, arise, begin, break, commence, dawn, engender, form, materialize, originate, set in, spring, start
    related: be, breathe, exist, live, subsist, arrive, come on, emerge, coalesce, cohere, shape (up), continue, endure, last, persist, survive
    opposite: cease, end, stop
    near: conclude, desist, discontinue, finish, halt, quit, terminate, disappear, dissolve, evaporate, vanish, depart, die, expire, pass away, perish

  4. to get to a destination

    "a friend who daily manages to appear at our door just as dinner is being served"

    similar: arrive, come, get in, get through, land, show up, turn up
    related: fetch, hit, make, reach, pull in, touch down, debark, disembark, barge (in), blow in, breeze (in), burst (in or into), waltz (in), check in, clock (in)
    opposite: go, leave
    near: check out, clock (out), flee, vamoose

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Appear

The most common words with a similar meaning to Appear:

come out, materialize, show, show up, turn up, unfold, act, come across (as), come off (as), feel, look, make, seem, sound, actualize, arise, begin, break, commence, dawn, engender, form, originate, set in, spring, start, arrive, come, get in, get through, land

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Appear

Words with the opposite meaning of Appear:

clear, disappear, dissolve, evanesce, evaporate, fade, go (away), melt (away), vanish, cease, end, stop, go, leave

Related Words for Appear

reappear, resurface, bulk, loom, debut, blossom, bob (up), break out, crop (up), emerge, erupt, issue, outcrop, rise, shoot (up), spring (up), surface, happen, occur, rematerialize, dissemble, pretend, recall, resemble, suggest, hint, imply, insinuate, be, breathe

Near Antonyms of Appear

depart, retire, withdraw, conclude, desist, discontinue, finish, halt, quit, terminate, die, expire, pass away, perish, check out, clock (out), flee, vamoose

Word Forms of Appear

Inflections: appeared, appearing, appears

Origin & Etymology of Appear

Middle English aperen, apperen, borrowed from Anglo-French apier-, aper-, tonic stem of aparer, apareir, aparoir, going back to Latin appārēre "to come into sight, be visible, be evident," from ad- ad- + pārēre "to be visible, be evident, be subject (to), comply (with)," of uncertain origin

First known use: 13th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Appear

Words & Phrases Containing Appear

appear in print

Frequently Asked Questions about Appear

What does "Appear" mean?

"Appear" means to be or come in sight. As a verb, it is defined as: to be or come in sight. It has 4 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Appear"?

Other words for "Appear" include come out, materialize, show, show up, turn up, unfold, act and come across (as). The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Appear" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Appear"?

There are 87 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Appear". Common alternatives include come out, materialize, show, show up, turn up, unfold, act, come across (as), come off (as) and feel.

What is the opposite of "Appear"?

Antonyms of "Appear" include clear, disappear, dissolve, evanesce, evaporate, fade, go (away) and melt (away). Near antonyms include depart, retire, withdraw and conclude.

How do you use "Appear" in a sentence?

Examples of "Appear" in a sentence: "a police car appeared just as I ran a red light"; "it appears that he doesn't hear you"; "the benefits of the exercise program should appear almost immediately".

Is "Appear" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Appear" is a verb.

Is "Appear" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As an A2-level word, "Appear" is typical of Cambridge A2 Key (KET), PTE Academic 30–42, TOEIC Listening & Reading 225+.

How do you pronounce "Appear"?

"Appear" is pronounced /ə-ˈpir/ and divided into syllables as ap·pear.