appearances

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

ap•pear•ance /əˈpɪrəns/   n. 

1. [countable] the act or process of appearing.
2. [uncountable] outward look;
   looks:
   a person of noble appearance.
3. appearances, [plural] outward show, impressions, indications, or circumstances:
   [countable] By all appearances, they enjoyed themselves.

Idioms

4. Idioms put in an appearance, to attend a gathering for a short time.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

ap•pear•ance  (ə pēr′əns), n. 

1. the act or fact of appearing, as to the eye or mind or before the public:
   the unannounced appearance of dinner guests; the last appearance of Caruso in
   Aïda;
   her first appearance at a stockholders' meeting.
2. the state, condition, manner, or style in which a person or object appears;
   outward look or aspect:
   a table of antique appearance; a man of noble appearance.
3. outward show or seeming;
   semblance:
   to avoid the appearance of coveting an honor.
4. [Law.] the coming into court of either party to a suit or action.
5. appearances, outward impressions, indications, or circumstances:
   By all appearances, he enjoyed himself.
6. Philosophy the sensory, or phenomenal, aspect of existence to an observer.
7. [Archaic.] an apparition.
8. keep up appearances, to maintain a public impression of decorum, prosperity, etc., despite reverses, unfavorable conditions, etc.:
   They tried to keep up appearances after losing all their money.
9. make an appearance, to come;
   arrive:
   He didn't make an appearance until after midnight.
10. put in an appearance, to attend a gathering or meeting, esp. for a very short time:
    The author put in an appearance at the cocktail party on her way to dinner.

• Late Latin appārentia, neuter plural of Latin appārēns apparent
• Anglo-French, Old French
• 1350–1400; appear + -ance; replacing Middle English aparance

Synonyms

• 1. arrival, coming, advent.
• 2. demeanor, presence.
  Appearance, aspect, guise refer to the way in which something outwardly presents itself to view.
  Appearance refers to the outward look:
  the shabby appearance of his car.
  Aspect refers to the appearance at some particular time or in special circumstances; it often has emotional implications, either ascribed to the object itself or felt by the beholder:
  In the dusk the forest had a terrifying aspect.
  Guise suggests a misleading appearance, assumed for an occasion or a purpose:
  under the guise of friendship.
• 3. face, pretense.