Dictionary

appearance en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• (US) audio
• /əˈpɪə.ɹəns/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• ə-pîrʹəns (General-American)
• /əˈpiɹ.əns/ (General-American)

Etymology

Borrowed from Middle French apparence, from Latin apparentia, from appareo. Morphologically appear + -ance. Doublet of apparence and apparency. Displaced native Old English hīew (“the way something looks or seems”) and ætīewednes (“act of appearing or coming into view”).

Meanings

1. (countable, uncountable) The act of appearing or coming into sight; the act of becoming visible to the eye.
   • His sudden appearance surprised me.
2. (countable, uncountable) A thing seen; a phenomenon; an apparition.
   • There was a strange appearance in the sky.
3. (countable, uncountable) The way something looks; personal presence
   • And now am come to ſee of whom ſuch noiſe Hath walk'd about, and each limb to ſurvey, If thy appearance anſwer loud report. 1671, John Milton, “Samson Agonistes, […].”, in Paradise Regain’d. A Poem. In IV Books. To which is Added, Samson Agonistes, London: […] J[ohn] M[acock] for John Starkey […], →OCLC, page 66, lines 99–101:
   • The most rapid and most seductive transition in all human nature is that which attends the palliation of a ravenous appetite.[…]Can those harmless but refined fellow-diners be the selfish cads whose gluttony and personal appearance so raised your contemptuous wrath on your arrival? 1921, Ben Travers, chapter 5, in A Cuckoo in the Nest, Garden City, N.Y.: Doubleday, Page & Company, published 1925, →OCLC:
4. (countable, uncountable) Apparent likeness; the way which something or someone appears to others.
   • KAWS’s first sculptures were limited edition toys for the Japanese brand Bounty Hunter, and the stylised figures distributed around YSP in a variety of postures – shielding their eyes from the sun, seated in apparent contemplation or leading a child-sized version of themselves over the sward – have the appearance of gigantic toys, with their instant legibility and machine-honed surfaces. 2016 February 4, Mark Hudson, “KAWS, Yorkshire Sculpture Park, review: 'hypnotically compelling'”, in The Telegraph:
   • Some people say I'm shallow because I care so much about my appearance.
   • 'Never be taken in by false appearancesʻ was Swift's habitual satirical message. 'In most Corporeal Beings, which have fallen under my Cognizance, the Outside hath been infinitely preferable to the In,' he elsewhere proclaimed. … The sordid reality beneath the mask haunted him: was all civilisation just dirt and derangement at heart? […] Evidently man was not the homo rationalis he pretended to be but rather, at best, homo rationis capax ─ a creature capable of rationality, though by implication falling short. 2003, Roy Porter, Flesh in the Age of Reason, Ch.9, at p.150, 151
   • Judge not according to the appearance. 1769, The King James Bible, John vii. 24:
   • And on the day that the tabernacle was reared up the cloud covered the tabernacle, namely, the tent of the testimony: and at even there was upon the tabernacle as it were the appearance of fire, until the morning. 1769, The King James Bible, Numbers ix. 15:
5. (countable, uncountable) That which is not substance, essence, hypostasis; the outward reality as opposed to the underlying reality
   • Catholicism teaches that the Eucharist, while remaining under the physical appearance of bread and wine, becomes really and truly the body and the blood of Christ.
6. (countable, uncountable) The act of appearing in a particular place, or in society, a company, or any proceedings; a coming before the public in a particular character.
   • A person makes his appearance as an historian, an artist, or an orator.
   • Will he now retire, After appearance, and again prolong Our expectation? 1671, John Milton, “(please specify the page)”, in Paradise Regain’d. A Poem. In IV Books. To which is Added, Samson Agonistes, London: […] J[ohn] M[acock] for John Starkey […], →OCLC:
   • David Beckham's first appearance with the LA Galaxy at Giants Stadium against the New York Red Bulls last night drew a crowd of 66237.
7. (countable, uncountable) An instance of someone coming into a court of law to be part of a trial, lawsuit or other proceeding, either in person or represented by an attorney or such like; a court appearance
8. (countable, uncountable) Chiefly used by nurses: the act of defecation by a patient.
   • The patient had a small bowel obstruction and there was no appearance until after the obstruction resolved.

Forms

Antonyms

nonappearance · non-appearance

Deriveds

appearance money · plate appearance · save appearances · to all appearance · keep up appearances · appearanced · appearancewise · court appearance · reappearance · put in an appearance · coappearance · abrupt appearance · make an appearance · disappearance · misappearance

Relateds

appear · apparent

Synonyms

pretense (outward show) · apparition (a thing seen) · make · semblance (outward show) · spectacle (a thing seen) · mien (aspect of a person) · aspect (aspect of a person) · face · arrival (act of coming into sight) · aspect · visage (outward show) · phenomenon (a thing seen) · garb (aspect of a person) · façade (outward show) · show (outward show) · air (aspect of a person) · mien · debut (act of appearing in public) · figure (aspect of a person) · manner (aspect of a person) · presence (a thing seen) · manifestation (act of coming into sight) · facade (outward show) · look (aspect of a person)

Translations (265)

ja 体裁 (semblance, or apparent likeness) · scn apparizziuni (the act of appearing or coming into sight) · ka შესახედაობა (personal presence, form or look) · ja 様子 (personal presence, form or look) · frm comparution (the coming into court of either of the parties) · uk зо́внішність (personal presence, form or look) · fr apparition (a thing seen) · bn রূপ (personal presence, form or look) · pt aparecimento (the act of appearing or coming into sight) · it apparenza (semblance, or apparent likeness) · ota نمایش (personal presence, form or look) · scn cumparizziuni (the act of appearing or coming into sight) · bg явяване (the act of appearing or coming into sight) · pt aparência (personal presence, form or look) · nl comparitie (the coming into court of either of the parties) · ro aparență (the act of appearing or coming into sight) · sa रूप (personal presence, form or look) · vi xuất hiện (the act of appearing or coming into sight) · nl verschijning (the act of appearing or coming into sight) · be во́нкавасць (personal presence, form or look) · ang hīew (a thing seen) · got 𐍃𐌹𐌿𐌽𐍃 (personal presence, form or look) · grc ἰδέα (personal presence, form or look) · be во́нкавы вы́гляд (personal presence, form or look) · mi putanga (the act of appearing or coming into sight) · cmn 出庭 (the coming into court of either of the parties) · fr apparence (personal presence, form or look) · uk з'я́висько (a thing seen) · be з'яўле́нне (the act of appearing or coming into sight) · sq pamje (the act of appearing or coming into sight) · it aspetto (personal presence, form or look) · ga nochtadh (the act of appearing or coming into sight) · uk зо́внішній ви́гляд (personal presence, form or look) · bg въ́ншност (personal presence, form or look) · af verskyning (the act of appearing or coming into sight) · sv sken (semblance, or apparent likeness) · id komparisi (the coming into court of either of the parties) · ko 겉모습 (semblance, or apparent likeness) · es talle (personal presence, form or look) · mk појавување (the act of appearing or coming into sight) · el εμφάνιση (the coming into court of either of the parties) · bg явле́ние (a thing seen) · it comparsa (the act of appearing or coming into sight) · el προσέλευση (the coming into court of either of the parties) · ja 出廷 (the coming into court of either of the parties) · gl aparición (a thing seen) · es viso (semblance, or apparent likeness) · scn participazziuni (the act of appearing in a particular place, or in society, a company, or any proceedings) · ro aparență (personal presence, form or look) · it aria (personal presence, form or look) · es aparición (the act of appearing in a particular place, or in society, a company, or any proceedings) · la vultum (personal presence, form or look) · ga comharthaí (personal presence, form or look) · ang andwlita (personal presence, form or look) · ang hīew (personal presence, form or look) · scn apparizziuni (a thing seen) · bg явя́ване (the coming into court of either of the parties) · el εμφάνιση (personal presence, form or look) · ro prezentare (the act of appearing in a particular place, or in society, a company, or any proceedings) · it apparizione (the act of appearing or coming into sight) · id penampilan (semblance, or apparent likeness) · uk поя́ва (the act of appearing in a particular place, or in society, a company, or any proceedings) · pt comparecimento (the coming into court of either of the parties) · ca aparença (personal presence, form or look) · es comparecencia (the coming into court of either of the parties) · es hechura (personal presence, form or look) · fi näyttäytyminen (the coming into court of either of the parties) · cmn 樣子 /样子 (personal presence, form or look) · mi kōwhitinga (the act of appearing or coming into sight) · ru вне́шность (personal presence, form or look) · ja 世間体 (the act of appearing in a particular place, or in society, a company, or any proceedings) · nv iʼnoolinígíí (personal presence, form or look) · fr apparition (the act of appearing or coming into sight) · pt aparência (semblance, or apparent likeness) · hy արտաքին (personal presence, form or look) · it comparizione (the coming into court of either of the parties) · sl pojavitev (the act of appearing or coming into sight) · hu kinézet (personal presence, form or look) · ja 外観 (personal presence, form or look) · sh izgled (personal presence, form or look) · it aspetto (semblance, or apparent likeness) · hu megjelenés (personal presence, form or look) · la aspectus (semblance, or apparent likeness) · pt aspecto (semblance, or apparent likeness) · ca aspecte (semblance, or apparent likeness) · ro apariție (the act of appearing or coming into sight) · ga láithreas (the coming into court of either of the parties) · pt aparição (the act of appearing or coming into sight) · ro înfățișare (semblance, or apparent likeness) · bg появя́ване (the act of appearing or coming into sight) · hi पेशी (the coming into court of either of the parties) · fi esiintyminen (the act of appearing in a particular place, or in society, a company, or any proceedings) · cmn 外貌 (personal presence, form or look) · ja 外見 (semblance, or apparent likeness) · fi saapuminen (the coming into court of either of the parties) · enm wlite (personal presence, form or look) · scn ariu (semblance, or apparent likeness) · sl zunanjost (personal presence, form or look) · es aspecto (semblance, or apparent likeness) · tr zuhur (the act of appearing or coming into sight) · sv tillstymmelse (semblance, or apparent likeness) · hu feltűnés (the act of appearing or coming into sight) · it apparizione (a thing seen) · cmn 出現 /出现 (the act of appearing or coming into sight) · es aparición (the coming into court of either of the parties) · ca compareixença (the coming into court of either of the parties) · ca aparició (a thing seen) · scn visiuni (a thing seen) · ang ansīen (personal presence, form or look) · ro înfățișare (the act of appearing in a particular place, or in society, a company, or any proceedings) · ar شَكْل (personal presence, form or look) · scn aspettu (personal presence, form or look) · ga dealramh (semblance, or apparent likeness) · ru о́блик (personal presence, form or look) · kk сиық (personal presence, form or look) · ru появле́ние (the act of appearing in a particular place, or in society, a company, or any proceedings) · ar مَظْهَر (a thing seen) · fr apparence (semblance, or apparent likeness) · eo aspekto (personal presence, form or look) · es apariencia (personal presence, form or look) · ang wlite (personal presence, form or look) · es cariz (semblance, or apparent likeness) · ru вне́шний вид (personal presence, form or look) · as ৰূপ (personal presence, form or look) · ro aspect (personal presence, form or look) · fi ulkomuoto (semblance, or apparent likeness) · fi ilmiö (a thing seen) · ang ætīewednes (the act of appearing in a particular place, or in society, a company, or any proceedings) · es aparición (the act of appearing or coming into sight) · ko 외모 (semblance, or apparent likeness) · la speciēs (personal presence, form or look) · be аблі́чча (personal presence, form or look) · scn prisintazziuni (the act of appearing in a particular place, or in society, a company, or any proceedings) · it visione (a thing seen) · ar هَيْئَة (personal presence, form or look) · sh pojavljivanje (the act of appearing or coming into sight) · sh pojava (personal presence, form or look) · de Auftritt (the act of appearing or coming into sight) · hi दिखना (the act of appearing or coming into sight) · be во́нкавасць (semblance, or apparent likeness) · ja 外観 (semblance, or apparent likeness) · ga comharthaí aithne (personal presence, form or look) · vi bề ngoài (personal presence, form or look) · izh koosi (personal presence, form or look) · bg въ́ншен вид (personal presence, form or look) · fi ulkomuoto (personal presence, form or look) · th รูปลักษณ์ (semblance, or apparent likeness) · fi tuntomerkit (personal presence, form or look) · fr comparution (the coming into court of either of the parties) · el εμφάνιση (the act of appearing in a particular place, or in society, a company, or any proceedings) · hu megjelenés (the act of appearing or coming into sight) · it presentazione (the act of appearing in a particular place, or in society, a company, or any proceedings) · nl aanblik (semblance, or apparent likeness) · scn figura (personal presence, form or look) · sv utseende (personal presence, form or look) · hi भेस (personal presence, form or look) · ang ætīewednes (the act of appearing or coming into sight) · fa پدیدار شدن (the act of appearing or coming into sight) · pl wygląd (personal presence, form or look) · es aparición (a thing seen) · it comparsa (the coming into court of either of the parties) · it sembianza (personal presence, form or look) · vi hiện tượng (a thing seen) · hi उपस्थित (a thing seen) · cs objevení se (the act of appearing or coming into sight) · ar شَكْل (semblance, or apparent likeness) · es pergenio (semblance, or apparent likeness) · it apparenza (personal presence, form or look) · be з'я́ва (a thing seen) · izh kaanu (personal presence, form or look) · ja 見掛け (personal presence, form or look) · ka გარეგნობა (personal presence, form or look) · ar ظُهُور (the act of appearing or coming into sight) · ro apariție (a thing seen) · sl videz (semblance, or apparent likeness) · fi ilmestyminen (the coming into court of either of the parties) · fi ulkonäkö (personal presence, form or look) · fi ilmaantuminen (the act of appearing or coming into sight) · ru вне́шность (semblance, or apparent likeness) · es apariencia (semblance, or apparent likeness) · pt aparecimento (the act of appearing in a particular place, or in society, a company, or any proceedings) · jv warna (the act of appearing or coming into sight) · eo apero (the act of appearing or coming into sight) · pl powierzchowność (personal presence, form or look) · pt aparição (a thing seen) · ga comharthaí sóirt (personal presence, form or look) · as চেহেৰা (personal presence, form or look) · be паяўле́нне (the act of appearing or coming into sight) · ro înfățișare (la judecătorie) (the coming into court of either of the parties) · uk ви́димість (a thing seen) · cs vzhled (semblance, or apparent likeness) · ro viziune (a thing seen) · ga cruth (semblance, or apparent likeness) · th สารรูป (semblance, or apparent likeness) · ru появле́ние (the act of appearing or coming into sight) · gd taisbeanadh (the act of appearing or coming into sight) · gl aparición (the act of appearing or coming into sight) · id tampang (semblance, or apparent likeness) · ko 외관 (semblance, or apparent likeness) · sv ankomst (the act of appearing or coming into sight) · scn cumparizziuni (the coming into court of either of the parties) · ko 볼품 (semblance, or apparent likeness) · ru я́вка (the coming into court of either of the parties) · ja 見た目 (semblance, or apparent likeness) · bn সুরত (personal presence, form or look) · hi रूप (personal presence, form or look) · id kenampakan (a thing seen) · uk поя́ва (the act of appearing or coming into sight) · scn apparenzia (semblance, or apparent likeness) · ty hohoʻa (personal presence, form or look) · el εμφάνιση (the act of appearing or coming into sight) · ca aparició (the act of appearing or coming into sight) · rm apparientscha (personal presence, form or look) · ro apariție (the act of appearing in a particular place, or in society, a company, or any proceedings) · uk я́вка (the coming into court of either of the parties) · bn চেহারা (personal presence, form or look) · hi उपस्थिति (the act of appearing in a particular place, or in society, a company, or any proceedings) · es pergeño (semblance, or apparent likeness) · fi julkiasu (personal presence, form or look) · sv utseende (semblance, or apparent likeness) · hi रूप-रंग (personal presence, form or look) · ga cuma (semblance, or apparent likeness) · es aire (semblance, or apparent likeness) · sv uppträdande (the act of appearing in a particular place, or in society, a company, or any proceedings) · es estampa (personal presence, form or look) · sl videz (personal presence, form or look) · uk зо́внішність (semblance, or apparent likeness) · it cera (personal presence, form or look) · grc ὄψις (semblance, or apparent likeness) · jv warni (the act of appearing or coming into sight) · grc φάσις (the act of appearing or coming into sight) · ro înfățișare (the act of appearing or coming into sight) · ru явле́ние (a thing seen) · sv framträdande (a thing seen) · pl stawiennictwo (the coming into court of either of the parties) · pl aparycja (personal presence, form or look) · bg при́лика (semblance, or apparent likeness) · ja 出現 (the act of appearing or coming into sight) · sh vanjština (personal presence, form or look) · fi ilmestyminen (the act of appearing or coming into sight) · de Erscheinen (the act of appearing or coming into sight) · de Aussehen (semblance, or apparent likeness) · he הופעה (the act of appearing or coming into sight) · ga aithnid (semblance, or apparent likeness) · fi ilmentymä (a thing seen) · be вы́гляд (personal presence, form or look) · ro înfățișare (personal presence, form or look) · scn cumparsa (the coming into court of either of the parties) · ko 외양 (semblance, or apparent likeness) · cmn 模樣 /模样 (personal presence, form or look) · ckb دەرپەڕین (the act of appearing or coming into sight) · de Aussehen (personal presence, form or look) · yue 外貌 (personal presence, form or look) · fi ulkonäkö (semblance, or apparent likeness) · sv framträdande (the act of appearing in a particular place, or in society, a company, or any proceedings) · gd coltas (semblance, or apparent likeness) · ang hīewung (a thing seen) · mk изглед (personal presence, form or look) · es aparecimiento (the act of appearing or coming into sight) · az zahir (personal presence, form or look) · eo aperaĵo (a thing seen) · ro aparență (semblance, or apparent likeness) · ar مَظْهَر (personal presence, form or look) · pl zjawisko (a thing seen) · jv rupa (the act of appearing or coming into sight)