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appear
/əˈpɪr/
to come into sight or become visible
The sun will appear over the horizon at dawn.
The sun will become visible in the sky at dawn.
general
to come into view or become visible
She appeared at the door unexpectedly.
She came into view at the door without warning.
Can be used both literally and figuratively.
general
to seem or give the impression of being something
He appeared confident during the interview.
He gave the impression of being confident during the interview.
Often used with adjectives to describe perceived qualities.
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Common Usage
Use 'appear' when something comes into view or when describing how someone seems to others.
Gold Rule
Preposition Choice
Use 'appear to' for impressions and 'appear as' for roles or forms.
Word Origin
From Middle English *aperen*, from Old French *apere*, from Latin *apparēre* (to appear, come into view).
Usage Notes
Can be used both literally (becoming visible) and figuratively (giving the impression of something). Often followed by 'to' or 'as'.
Word Breakdown
ap-
to
prefix-pear
to come into view
rootEnglish Dictionary