# apparent

/əˈpɛɹənt/ (US) · /ɐpˈæɹənt/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/apparent
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. obvious or clear

adjective · CEFR B2 · Academic

easy to see or understand clearly.

For teachers: manifest to the understanding; evident or obvious through observation.

- It became apparent that the plan was not going to work.
- The structural flaws in the bridge became apparent only after the heavy winter rains caused the foundation to shift slightly.

### 2. seeming but perhaps not real

adjective · CEFR B2 · Academic

appearing to be true, even if it is not actually true.

For teachers: appearing as such but not necessarily so; used to distinguish a surface impression from the actual reality.

- The apparent success of the project hid many serious problems.
- Despite the apparent calm in the boardroom, the directors were deeply divided over the proposed merger and its long-term implications.

### 3. visible

adjective · CEFR C1 · Formal

able to be seen by the eyes.

For teachers: capable of being seen; visible to the eye or within sight.

- The tiny ship was apparent on the horizon only through binoculars.
- The subtle variations in the star's brightness were not apparent to the naked eye, requiring sophisticated sensors for detection.

## Examples

- The reason for his anger was apparent to everyone.
- It became apparent after the first few minutes of the presentation that the team had not prepared enough data.
- Despite his apparent lack of interest in the proceedings, the witness was actually listening intently to every word of the cross-examination.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.