ENGLISH
REFERENCE

appeal to sb

phrasal verb.
Definition

phrasal verb. to be attractive or interesting to you.

phrasal verb. to be attractive, pleasing, or interesting to a specific person or group; functions as an intransitive verb followed by a prepositional object.


SIMPLE

The idea of working from home appeals to me.

CONTEXTUAL

The new marketing campaign is designed to appeal to younger customers who care about the environment.

COMPLEX

While the minimalist aesthetic might appeal to modern architects, it often feels cold and uninviting to the general public.

Particles
to
Separability
inseparable
Pattern
appeal + to + object
Usage

The subject is the thing that is attractive, and the object is the person who likes it.

Teaching tip

Contrast this with 'like' or 'enjoy' where the person is the subject; 'appeal to' reverses the logical roles of the person and the thing.

Pitfall

I appeal to this music.This music appeals to me.The thing you like must be the subject of the sentence, not the person.

Last updated April 24, 2026