appearance
- 01 A2 Elementary
the way that someone or something looks on the outside.
the outward physical look or aesthetic of a person or object.
Simple“The hotel has a very modern appearance with lots of glass and steel.”
In context“The architect was concerned that the building's external appearance would clash with the historic character of the surrounding neighbourhood.”
- 02 B1 Intermediate
the moment when someone or something arrives or becomes visible.
the act of coming into sight or becoming visible to the observer.
Simple“The sudden appearance of a police car made the driver slow down.”
In context“The unexpected appearance of the sun after a week of rain lifted the spirits of the entire village.”
Antonyms - 03 B1 Intermediate
an act of performing or being seen in public, like on TV or at a concert.
a scheduled instance of being present in a public capacity, such as a performance or a media engagement.
Simple“The singer made a brief appearance on the morning talk show.”
In context“The author's public appearance at the literary festival was cancelled due to unforeseen travel complications.”
Synonyms - 04 B2 Upper Intermediate
the act of going to a court of law for a trial.
the formal act of presenting oneself in a court of law as a party to a suit or as a witness.
Simple“The defendant is required to make a court appearance next Tuesday.”
In context“The lawyer advised his client that a personal appearance in court would be more persuasive than a written statement.”
Synonyms - 05 C1 Advanced
the way something seems to be, which might be different from how it really is.
the outward show or deceptive outward look of something, often contrasted with its true nature or essence.
Simple“Despite his calm appearance, he was actually very nervous about the news.”
In context“The philosopher argued that we must distinguish between mere appearance and the underlying reality of the physical world.”
Usage appearance since · appearances in all competitions · appearances last
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”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.