A21K

Appear

UK /["/əˈpɪə(r)/","/əˈpɪəz/","/əˈpɪəd/","/əˈpɪərɪŋ/"]/US /["/əˈpɪr/","/əˈpɪrz/","/əˈpɪrd/","/əˈpɪrɪŋ/"]/

Definition

to start to be seen

In simple words: to come into view or be seen

Examples

  • She decided to appear in the school play this year.
  • It may appear that he is not interested, but he is just shy.
  • The stars begin to appear in the night sky after sunset.
  • He hopes his hard work will allow him to appear more confident.
  • The evidence may appear to support her claim, but it's misleading.
  • In the photo, they seem to appear taller than they actually are.
  • New species often appear in remote areas of the rainforest.
  • He didn't appear at the meeting, which surprised everyone.

Usage notes

Use 'appear' to describe how something looks or becomes visible. It's suitable for both spoken and written English but avoid in very casual contexts. 'Seem' can sometimes be used interchangeably, but 'appear' is more about visual presence.

Grammar pattern

appear + adjective / appear + to + verb

Memory hint

Think of a magician who makes things appear out of nowhere!

Collocations

  • suddenly
  • from nowhere
  • magically
  • suddenly
  • from nowhere
  • magically
  • currently
  • frequently
  • occasionally
  • at
  • appear on television
  • at
  • appear before a court
  • appear before a judge
  • appear before a magistrate

Synonyms

  • seem

Antonyms

  • disappear
  • vanish
  • fade

Common mistakes

  • Using 'appear' with a noun directly, instead of an adjective.
  • Confusing 'appear' with 'disappear'.
  • Misusing 'appear' in the past tense or perfect forms.