appearance
appearance
Pronunciation
IPA Phonetic Spelling:
/əˈpɪərəns/ (General American) or /əˈpɪərɪns/ (Received Pronunciation)
a - /ə/ (schwa, unstressed, as in "about")
ppear - /ˈpɪər/ (as in "pier" or "fear" with 'p' - General American, primary stress) or /ˈpɪə/ (as in "pier" or "fear" without 'r' - Received Pronunciation, primary stress)
ance - /əns/ (schwa + 'n' + 's', unstressed) or /ɪns/ (as in "bins" - Received Pronunciation)
Word Form Variations
Appearance" primarily functions as a noun.
Noun:
Singular: appearance
Plural: appearances
Related forms (but not direct variations of "appearance" itself):
Verb: appear
Adjective: apparent
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun
The way that someone or something looks; the outward aspect of a person or thing.
Synonyms: look, aspect, semblance, form, guise, facade, exterior
Antonyms: reality, essence, substance, interior, true nature
The act of coming into sight; the fact of becoming visible or being seen.
Synonyms: emergence, materialization, manifestation, arrival, advent, coming
Antonyms: disappearance, vanishing, exit, departure, fading
An act of performing or being present in a public event, show, or formal gathering.
Synonyms: performance, showing, presentation, presence, attendance, cameo
Antonyms: absence, non-attendance, cancellation
The way in which something seems to be, rather than how it actually is; an outward show or pretense. (Often in phrases like "keep up appearances")
Synonyms: facade, guise, pretense, semblance, show, veneer
Antonyms: reality, truth, authenticity, substance
Examples of Use
Books:
"It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent that survives. It is the one that is most adaptable to change. And sometimes, their appearance might surprise you." (Often attributed to Charles Darwin, though the latter part is a common modern interpretation rather than a direct quote from his original works; used here to illustrate common usage.)
Newspapers:
"The pop star's surprise appearance at the local charity event drew thousands of fans to the downtown square." (The Times)
Online Publications:
"New software updates will feature a refreshed user interface, changing the overall appearance of the application." (TechCrunch)
Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:
"His sudden appearance from behind the curtain startled the entire audience." (Dialogue from a play, The Phantom of the Opera, often performed)
"The special effects in the movie made the alien's appearance incredibly realistic and terrifying." (Film review on Rotten Tomatoes)
"Welcome to my channel! Today, I'm doing a full transformation, changing my whole appearance with makeup." (YouTube beauty vlogger, "Glam & Glow,")
General Public Discourse:
"Don't judge a book by its cover; appearance can be deceiving."
"She made a brief appearance at the party before leaving early."
"His appearance has changed a lot since I last saw him."
"The magician's next trick involves the sudden appearance of a dove."
10 Quotes Using Appearance
"Things are not always what they seem. The first appearance deceives many." (Phaedrus)
"Keep up appearances." (Common idiom, widely recognized)
"Judge not according to the appearance." (John 7:24 KJV)
"The appearance of evil." (1 Thessalonians 5:22 KJV)
"Outward appearance is not to be trusted." (Common philosophical adage)
"He has gained much in worldly wealth, but lost much in spiritual content; his appearance belies his soul." (A common literary or philosophical observation)
"The most important thing is a good heart, not outward appearance." (Widely used inspirational phrase)
"Her sudden appearance in the doorway stunned the guests into silence." (Common descriptive line in literature and film)
"The difference between having a good heart and a good appearance is vast." (A common observational comparison)
"To maintain the appearance of control, one must first master oneself." (A common leadership or self-help adage)
Etymology
The word "appearance" is about something becoming visible or seeming a certain way. Its history stems from an ancient Latin word meaning "to come into sight."
It comes from the Latin verb "apparere," which meant "to appear," "to become visible," or "to show itself." This Latin verb is formed from two parts:
"ad-": a Latin prefix meaning "to" or "at."
"parere": a Latin verb meaning "to appear" or "to come into view."
So, "apparere" literally meant "to come to sight" or "to show oneself to."
The word "appearance" entered the English language from Old French ("aparence" or "appaurence") in the late 13th or early 14th century (around the 1200s to 1300s).
The first known use and meaning of "appearance" in English was very much in line with its Latin and French origins: the act of becoming visible or the outward form of something. It also quickly developed the sense of "seeming" or "what something looks like on the surface," which is often contrasted with its true nature.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Appearance
Keep up appearances (to maintain an outward show of prosperity or well-being despite difficulties)
Make an appearance (to attend an event, often briefly or formally)
First appearance (the initial visible manifestation or presentation)
Outward appearance (the way something or someone looks on the outside)
To all appearances (from what can be seen or seems to be the case)
Ghostly appearance (a spectral or supernatural manifestation)
Put in an appearance (to attend an event, often implying a brief or obligatory visit)
His whole demeanor belied his outward show (using a synonym for "appearance," referring to a facade)
The facade of calm (using a synonym for "appearance," highlighting a deceptive front)
A deceptive guise (using a synonym for "appearance," emphasizing misleading outward form)
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of appearance from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
