Appear

/əˈpɪr/

Meaning & Definition

verb
to become visible or noticeable; to be seen.
The sun began to appear over the horizon.
to seem or give the impression of being something.
He appears to be quite confident in his abilities.
to come into being; to arise.
New opportunities appear whenever you take risks.
to present oneself in a formal setting.
She will appear before the committee next week.

Etymology

Middle English 'apparen', from Old French 'aparir', from Latin 'apparere' meaning 'to come forth'.

Common Phrases and Expressions

appear on the scene
to arrive at a particular location or event, especially unexpectedly.
appear to be
to seem or give the impression of being in a certain way.
make an appearance
to attend or show up at an event, often briefly.

Related Words

appearance
the way that someone or something looks.
disappear
to cease to be visible.

Slang Meanings

to show up unexpectedly
He just decided to appear at the party without an invitation.
to make oneself known or present
After going quiet for a while, she finally appeared and joined the discussion.