appearance
n. C / Un. the way that someone or something looks on the outside. It can also mean the act of showing up in a place.
n. the outward or visible aspect of a person or thing; also, the act of becoming visible or present in a specific location.
She cares a lot about her physical appearance.
The famous author made a surprise appearance at the local bookstore to sign copies of her new novel.
While the building's outward appearance suggests a historical landmark, the interior has been completely gutted and replaced with modern glass and steel infrastructure.
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”).
Uncountable when referring to outward looks in general; countable when referring to a specific instance of showing up or a public event.