appearance
gb/əpˈɪɹəns/ us/əpˈɪɹəns/
A2
English
~ 1500
Senses
0 senses
Noun
A2
entity
1
outward look of someone/something
How a person or thing looks to other people.
Usage pattern:
the appearance of [someone/something]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'appearance' with 'arrival'; in this sense it only refers to how something looks, not the act of coming.
Synonyms
look (Less formal and more general; can refer to facial expression as well as overall visual impression.)
|
aspect (More formal; often used for a particular part of appearance.)
Antonyms
reality (Contrasts the external look with the actual truth or nature.)
Collocations
physical appearance
|personal appearance
|change in appearance
|improve appearance
|outward appearance
Themes
daily life
|descriptions
|visual
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- Her appearance had changed a lot since high school.
- The sudden appearance of wrinkles worried him.
- They judged him by his appearance alone.
Learner examples
- She has a nice appearance.
- His appearance is very different now.
- The dog's appearance is clean and healthy.
Noun
B1
event
2
act of becoming visible or present
When a person comes into view or is seen in public.
Usage pattern:
make an appearance at [event/place]
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse this with 'look'; here it refers to the act of showing up, not physical features.
Synonyms
arrival (Focuses on the fact of coming to a place, not necessarily being seen by many people.)
|
showing (Informal; implies coming into view for a short time.)
Antonyms
absence (Refers to not being present or visible when expected.)
Collocations
public appearance
|court appearance
|brief appearance
|first appearance
|special appearance
Themes
events
|social life
|communication
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The singer made a rare public appearance.
- He was fined for missing his court appearance.
- She made her first appearance on stage at age 10.
Learner examples
- The actor made an appearance at the party.
- He missed his court appearance.
- She made her first appearance on TV yesterday.
Noun
B2
entity
3
outward impression that may be false
How something looks or seems, which might not be true.
Usage pattern:
give the appearance of [something]
Common mistake:
Learners may take 'appearance' here literally as 'look', but it can refer to a false or misleading impression.
Synonyms
semblance (More formal; often used when the similarity is only slight or superficial.)
|
pretense (Implies deliberate misleading about reality.)
Antonyms
truth (The actual facts, as opposed to how things seem.)
Collocations
give the appearance
|keep up appearances
|outward appearances
Themes
perception
|truth
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- His calm voice gave the appearance of confidence.
- The building had the appearance of being abandoned.
- They tried to keep up appearances despite their problems.
Learner examples
- He gave the appearance of being happy.
- The house has the appearance of age.
- She keeps up appearances when guests come.
Grammar
Dictionary form
appearance
IPA
GB/əpˈɪɹəns/
US/əpˈɪɹəns/
Syllables & stress
ap - pear - ance (3 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (pear)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: appearance
- Plural: appearance, appearances
Word family
Forms
appearances
noun
Core family
appear
verb A2
Related words
apparent
adjective B1
apparently
adverb B1
Negative and opposite forms
disappear
verb A2
disappearance
noun B2
Advanced or less common
reappear
verb
reappearance
noun
Expressions
by all appearances
3/bˈaɪ ˈɔl əpˈɪɹənsɪz/
fixed phrase
as far as can be judged from signs
From what can be seen or known, it seems this way.
Examples
- By all appearances, the meeting was a success.
- By all appearances, they are happily married.
keep up appearances
2/kˈip ˈʌp əpˈɪɹənsɪz/
idiom
pretend everything is fine in public
To behave in a way that hides problems so that others think everything is fine.
Examples
- Even after losing his job, he kept up appearances for his neighbors.
- They were deeply in debt but kept up appearances at social events.
make an appearance
1/mˈeɪk ən əpˈɪɹəns/
fixed phrase
attend briefly or show oneself publicly
To go to an event for a short time so people can see you.
Examples
- The mayor made an appearance at the charity event.
- She made an appearance at her friend's wedding before leaving for work.