# appeal

/əˈpiɫ/ (US) · /ɐpˈiːl/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 1. legal request for review

noun · CEFR B2 · Formal

a formal request to a higher court to change a decision made by a lower court.

For teachers: a formal application to a superior court for the review and reversal of a decision made by an inferior court.

- The lawyer filed an appeal after the judge gave a very harsh sentence.
- The defendant's legal team prepared a lengthy appeal, citing several procedural errors that occurred during the initial trial.

Usage: Often used with the verbs 'file', 'lodge', or 'win'.

### 2. request for help

noun · CEFR B2

a serious or urgent request for help, money, or information.

For teachers: an earnest or urgent request for public support, financial assistance, or information.

- The charity launched an emergency appeal to help the victims of the flood.
- The police made a televised appeal for witnesses to come forward with any information regarding the missing vehicle.

### 3. attractiveness

noun · CEFR B2

the quality of being interesting or attractive to people.

For teachers: the power or quality of attracting or stimulating interest.

- The main appeal of the job was the chance to travel around the world.
- The film's enduring appeal lies in its ability to balance sophisticated political commentary with genuine human emotion.

### 4. to request a legal review

verb · CEFR B2 · Formal

to formally ask a higher court to change a legal decision.

For teachers: to apply to a higher court for a reversal of the decision of a lower court.

- The company decided to appeal against the fine in the high court.
- The prosecution indicated that they would appeal the verdict, arguing that the judge had misdirected the jury on a point of law.

Usage: In British English, speakers usually 'appeal against' a decision; in American English, they often 'appeal' the decision directly.

### 5. to be attractive

verb · CEFR B2

to be interesting or attractive to someone.

For teachers: to be attractive or interesting to a particular person or group.

- The idea of working from home really appeals to me.
- The new marketing campaign was specifically designed to appeal to younger consumers who value sustainability over brand name.

Usage: Always used with the preposition 'to'.

### 6. to ask for help

verb · CEFR B2

to make a serious or formal request for help or support.

For teachers: to make an earnest or formal request to a person or authority for a decision or help.

- The government appealed to the public to stay calm during the crisis.
- The organizers appealed to local businesses for sponsorship to ensure the festival remained free for the community.

## Examples

- The lawyer filed an appeal after the judge's ruling.
- The defendant decided to lodge an appeal because new evidence suggested the original trial was unfair.
- The high court rejected the appeal on the grounds that the procedural errors cited by the defense did not materially affect the final verdict.

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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.