appear

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA ^(key): /əˈpɪə/
• (US) IPA ^(key): /əˈpɪr/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

Verb

Plain form appear

Third-person singular appears

Past tense appeared

Past participle appeared

Present participle appearing

1. (intransitive) If something appears a certain way, it looks or seems that way.
   • Synonyms: look and seem

   At first glance, this would appear to be true.

   The problems appear likely to continue.

   School size and class size do not appear to be important factors affecting progress on test scores.

2. (intransitive) If something appears, it comes into sight.
   • Synonyms: show, happen and begin
   • Antonym: disappear

   She was studying when her mother appeared in the doorway.

   Suddenly, out of nowhere, Lars appeared next to her.

3. (intransitive) If something appears in a book, movie, TV program, etc., it is in it.
   • Synonyms: act and publish

   He has appeared in over 100 movies.

   The word appears nowhere in this book.

   His articles have appeared in the New York Times.

Related words

• appearance
• disappear