appear
appear
(əpɪəʳ )Word forms: 3rd person singular present tense appears , present participle appearing , past tense, past participle appeared
1. link verb [no cont]
If you say that something appears to be the way you describe it, you are reporting what you believe or what you have been told, though you cannot be sure it is true.
[vagueness]There appears to be increasing support for the leadership to take a more aggressive stance. [VERB to-infinitive]
The aircraft appears to have crashed near Katmandu. [VERB to-infinitive]
It appears that some missiles have been moved. [VERB that]
It appears unlikely that the U.N. would consider making such a move. [VERB adjective]
The presidency is beginning to appear a political irrelevance. [VERB noun]
Nine months later, those talks appear as distant as ever. [VERB adjective]
He appeared willing to reach an agreement. [VERB adjective]
2. link verb [no cont]
If someone or something appears to have a particular quality or characteristic, they give the impression of having that quality or characteristic.
She did her best to appear more self-assured than she felt. [VERB adjective]
He is anxious to appear a gentleman. [VERB noun]
Under stress these people will appear to be superficial, over-eager and manipulative. [VERB to-infinitive]
3. verb
When someone or something appears, they move into a position where you can see them.
A woman appeared at the far end of the street. [VERB]
Last night some of the prisoners appeared on the roof. [VERB]
[Also there V n]4. verb
When something new appears, it begins to exist or reaches a stage of development where its existence can be noticed.
...small white flowers which appear in early summer. [VERB]
Slogans have appeared on walls around the city. [VERB]
...a test which can reveal infection at an early stage, before symptoms appear. [VERB]
[Also there V n]5. verb
When something such as a book appears, it is published or becomes available for people to buy.
I could hardly wait for 'Boys' World' to appear each month. [VERB]
...a poem which appeared in his last collection of verse. [VERB]
6. verb
When someone appears in something such as a play, a show, or a television programme, they take part in it.
Jill Bennett became John Osborne's fourth wife, and appeared in several of his plays. [VERB + in]
Student leaders appeared on television to ask for calm. [VERB + on]
[Also V + at]7. verb
When someone appears before a court of law or before an official committee, they go there in order to answer charges or to give information as a witness.
Two other executives appeared at Worthing Magistrates' Court charged with tax fraud. [V + at/in]
The American will appear before members of the disciplinary committee at Portman Square. [V + before]
