appearance

[ uh-peer-uhns ]

noun

1. the act or fact of appearing, as to the eye or mind or before the public:

   the unannounced appearance of dinner guests; the last appearance of Caruso in Aïda; her first appearance at a stockholders' meeting.

   Synonyms: advent, coming, arrival

2. the state, condition, manner, or style in which a person or object appears; outward look or aspect:

   a table of antique appearance; a man of noble appearance.

   Synonyms: presence, demeanor

3. outward show or seeming; semblance:

   to avoid the appearance of coveting an honor.

   Synonyms: pretense, face

4. Law. the coming into court of either party to a suit or action.
5. appearances, outward impressions, indications, or circumstances:

   By all appearances, he enjoyed himself.

6. Philosophy. the sensory, or phenomenal, aspect of existence to an observer.
7. Archaic. an apparition.

appearance

/ 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

   it has the appearance of powdered graphite

   her appearance was stunning

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
   1. the formal attendance in court of a party in an action
   2. formal notice that a party or his legal representative intends to maintain or contest the issue

      to enter an appearance

6. philosophy
   1. the outward or phenomenal manifestation of things
   2. the world as revealed by the senses, as opposed to its real nature Compare reality
7. keep up appearances
   to maintain the public impression of wellbeing or normality
8. put in an appearance or make an appearance
   to come or attend briefly, as out of politeness
9. to all appearances
   to the extent that can easily be judged; apparently

Other Words From

• preap·pearance noun
• reap·pearance noun
• subap·pearance noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of appearance¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; appear + -ance; replacing Middle English aparance, from Anglo-French, Old French, from Late Latin appārentia, neuter plural of Latin appārēns apparent

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. keep up appearances, to maintain a public impression of decorum, prosperity, etc., despite reverses, unfavorable conditions, etc.:

   They tried to keep up appearances after losing all their money.

2. make an appearance, to come; arrive:

   He didn't make an appearance until after midnight.

3. put in an appearance, to attend a gathering or meeting, especially for a very short time:

   The author put in an appearance at the cocktail party on her way to dinner.

More idioms and phrases containing appearance

see keep up appearances ; put in an appearance .

Synonym Study

Appearance, aspect, guise refer to the way in which something outwardly presents itself to view. Appearance refers to the outward look: the shabby appearance of his car. Aspect refers to the appearance at some particular time or in special circumstances; it often has emotional implications, either ascribed to the object itself or felt by the beholder: In the dusk the forest had a terrifying aspect. Guise suggests a misleading appearance, assumed for an occasion or a purpose: under the guise of friendship.

Example Sentences

Commander Murphy told the hearing that to call their appearance a surprise was a "slight understatement".

From BBC

He has an 0.47 ERA in four career World Series appearances and the steely nerve to take the mound on one day’s rest for the last three outs of this fall’s clinching Game 5.

From Los Angeles Times

But Oz is a controversial figure in the medical world whose television appearances have drawn criticism from fellow physicians who say he backs questionable alternative medicine and unproven weight loss products.

From Los Angeles Times

The fossils represent the earliest documented appearance of a group of animals that today are the most plentiful on Earth, the researchers report this week in Current Biology.

From Science Magazine

Watch a clip from "The Today Show" appearance here:

From Salon

Related Words

• arrival
• debut
• display
• presence
• presentation