# appeal to sb

CEFR B2 · Phrasal verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/appeal-to-sb
Updated: 2026-04-24

## Definition

to be attractive or interesting to you.

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

## Examples

- The idea of working from home appeals to me.
- The new marketing campaign is designed to appeal to younger customers who care about the environment.
- While the minimalist aesthetic might appeal to modern architects, it often feels cold and uninviting to the general public.

## Pitfalls

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

## Usage notes

- 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.

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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.