appearance
the way a person or thing looks to other people
There was nothing unusual about/in her physical appearance.
Oxford Essential Dictionary
appearance
noun
1 the way that somebody or something looks or seems:
A new hairstyle can completely change your appearance.
2 the coming of somebody or something; when somebody or something is seen:
Jane's appearance at the party surprised everybody.
Is this your first appearance on television?
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
appearance
ap‧pear‧ance W2 /əˈpɪərəns $ əˈpɪr-/ BrE AmE noun
[Word Family: verb: ↑appear ≠ ↑disappear, ↑reappear; noun: ↑appearance ≠ ↑disappearance, ↑reappearance]
1. WAY SOMEBODY/SOMETHING LOOKS [uncountable and countable] the way someone or something looks to other people:
He was always criticising his wife’s appearance.
appearance of
They’ve changed the appearance of the whole building.
We are often attracted to somebody first by their physical appearance.
Women, in general, tend to be more concerned than men about their personal appearance.
She had an outward appearance of calm, but deep down she was really worried.
The metal posts spoiled the appearance of the garden.
A garnish helps to enhance the appearance of any dish.
She’s the kind of woman who takes pride in her appearance.
You shouldn’t judge by appearances.
They work hard at school without giving the appearance of being particularly hard-working.
The case had all the appearances of a straightforward murder.
The pupils looked angelic – but appearances can be deceptive.
He was, to all appearances, a respectable, successful businessman.
2. SOMEBODY TAKES PART IN A PUBLIC EVENT [countable] when a famous person takes part in a film, concert, or other public event:
It was his first public appearance since the election.
He made his last appearance for the club in the Cup Final.
appearance money/fee (=money paid to a famous person to attend an event)
3. SOMETHING NEW STARTS TO EXIST [singular] when something new begins to exist or starts being used
appearance of
The industry has changed greatly with the appearance of new technologies.
the appearance of buds on the trees
4. ARRIVAL [countable usually singular] the unexpected or sudden arrival of someone or something
appearance of
Eileen was deep in concentration, and the sudden appearance of her daughter startled her.
5. keep up appearances to dress and behave in the way in which people expect you to, especially to hide your true situation:
She just wanted to keep up appearances for the kids.
6. for appearances’ sake/for the sake of appearances if you do something for appearances’ sake, you are trying to behave how people expect you to, especially to hide your true situation or feelings
7. put in an appearance/make an appearance to go to an event for a short time, because you think you should rather than because you want to:
At least Marc managed to put in an appearance at the party.
8. AT A LAW COURT/MEETING [countable] an occasion when someone goes to a court of law or official meeting to give information, answer questions etc:
He is due to make another court appearance on Monday.
Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary
appearance / əˈpɪə.rəns / / -ˈpɪr. ə ns / noun (WAY YOU LOOK)
B1 [ C or U ] the way a person or thing looks to other people:
a middle-aged man of smart appearance
You can alter/change the whole appearance of a room just by lighting it in a certain way.
There was nothing unusual about/in her physical appearance.
The large car outside the house gave the appearance of wealth (= suggested wealthy people lived there) .
Appearances can be deceptive.
to/from all appearances judging from what can be seen:
To all appearances their marriage is fine, but I think she gives him a bad time in private.
Word partners for appearance (BEING PRESENT)
a brief / fleeting / sudden appearance • a rare / recent / regular appearance • sb's farewell / final / first appearance • a personal / public appearance • make / put in an appearance • sb's appearance as sth • sb's appearance in sth
Word partners for appearance (WAY YOU LOOK)
the external / outward appearance • sb's personal / physical appearance • a dishevelled / scruffy / unkempt appearance • a striking appearance • improve your/sth's appearance
Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary
appearance
[əpɪ͟ərəns]
♦♦
appearances
1) N-COUNT: usu with supp, oft supp N When someone makes an appearance at a public event or in a broadcast, they take part in it.
It was the president's second public appearance to date...
Keegan made 68 appearances in two seasons for Southampton, scoring 37 times.
2) N-SING: with supp Someone's or something's appearance is the way that they look.
She used to be so fussy about her appearance...
He had the appearance of a college student...
A flat-roofed extension will add nothing to the value or appearance of the house.
3) N-SING: with supp, oft N of n The appearance of someone or something in a place is their arrival there, especially when it is unexpected.
The sudden appearance of a few bags of rice could start a riot.
...last Christmas, when there'd been the welcome appearance of Cousin Fred.
4) N-SING: with supp, oft N of n The appearance of something new is its coming into existence or use.
Flowering plants were making their first appearance, but were still a rarity...
Fears are growing of a cholera outbreak following the appearance of a number of cases in the city.
5) N-SING: with supp If something has the appearance of a quality, it seems to have that quality.
We tried to meet both children's needs without the appearance of favoritism or unfairness...
The US president risked giving the appearance that the US was taking sides.
6) PHRASE: PHR with cl/group If something is true to all appearances, from all appearances, or by all appearances, it seems from what you observe or know about it that it is true.
He was a small and to all appearances an unassuming man.
7) PHRASE: V inflects If you keep up appearances, you try to behave and dress in a way that people expect of you, even if you can no longer afford it.
His parents' obsession with keeping up appearances haunted his childhood.
8) PHRASE: V inflects If you put in an appearance at an event, you go to it for a short time although you may not really want to, but do not stay.
You must put in an appearance, at least, or she'll think you're avoiding her.
Syn:
show your face
Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary
appearance
ap·pear·ance /əˈpirəns/ noun, pl -anc·es
1 somewhat formal : the way that someone or something looks
[count]
• The room has a neat/fresh/clean appearance. [=look]
• The general appearance of the house is quite good.
• The museum restored the painting to its original appearance.
• lotions that improve your skin's appearance and texture
• It minimizes the appearance of wrinkles. [=it makes wrinkles more difficult to see]
• You shouldn't judge a man by his appearance.
• Have you noticed any changes in her appearance?
• He's very proud of his physical appearance. [=the way he looks]
[noncount]
• He is still very youthful in appearance. [=he still looks very young]
• They are very similar in appearance. [=they look the same]
2 [count] : a way of looking that is not true or real
• He appears to be happy, but appearances can be deceptive/deceiving.
• Their expensive home created a false appearance of success and happiness.
• The furniture has the appearance of being made by hand. [=the furniture was not made by hand but it looks/appears as if it was]
• Despite appearances, her company is very successful. = Appearances to the contrary, her company is very successful. [=her company is very successful even though it does not appear to be]
• She is only attending the banquet for the sake of appearances. [=because people think that she should attend]
• He was, to/by all (outward) appearances, a happily married man. [=he seemed to be a happily married man, but he wasn't]
• Their meetings tend to take on the appearance of [=to look like] family gatherings.
• His white beard gave him the appearance of an old man. [=made him look like an old man]
• The playground gives every appearance of being a safe place for children [=the playground appears to be a safe place for children], but a tragic accident occurred there recently.
3 [count] : the action of appearing : the fact that something or someone arrives or begins to be seen - usually singular
• The appearance of buds on the trees tells us that spring has arrived.
• We were surprised by the appearance of smoke in the distance.
• I wasn't expecting him to come and was surprised by his sudden appearance. [=I was surprised when he suddenly appeared/arrived]
4 [count] : the time when something begins to exist or is seen for the first time - usually singular
• The appearance [=creation] of the Internet has changed our culture in many ways.
• The technology made its first appearance [=appeared for the first time] in the early 1980s.
• Before the appearance of the telephone, people sent messages by telegraph.
5 [count] : an act of being seen or heard by the public as an actor, politician, athlete, etc.
• He has announced that this will be his final/last appearance with the band. [=the last time that he will perform in public with the band]
• This is her first appearance [=the first time that she has competed] at/in the national championships.
- often used with make
• She is making her first appearance at/in the national championships.
• Tonight, he is making his first public appearance since winning the award.
• He'll be making a special guest appearance [=performing as a guest] on the popular television show next fall.
6 [count] : the formal act of going in front of a person or group to speak, answer questions, etc.
• One man has been convicted of the crime, and two others are awaiting court appearances. [=waiting to go to court]
- often + before
• He is awaiting his appearance before a judge.
• She made an appearance before Congress last year.
keep up appearances : to hide something bad by pretending that nothing is wrong
• Although they were getting a divorce, my parents thought it was important to keep up appearances.
make an appearance or put in an appearance : to go to an event, gathering, etc., usually for a short period of time
• The candidate made an appearance at the rally.
• The governor put in an appearance at the party
