Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner's English Dictionary - appear

(appears, appearing, appeared) Frequency: The word is one of the 700 most common words in English. 1. 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. There appears to be increasing support for the leadership to take a more aggressive stance... The aircraft appears to have crashed near Katmandu... It appears that some missiles have been moved... It appears unlikely that the UN would consider making such a move... The presidency is beginning to appear a political irrelevance... He appeared willing to reach an agreement. = seem V-LINK: no cont, there V to-inf, V to-inf, it V that, it V adj that/to-inf, V n, V adj c darkgreen]vagueness 2. 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... He is anxious to appear a gentleman... Under stress these people will appear to be superficial, over-eager and manipulative. = seem V-LINK: no cont, V adj, V n, V to-inf 3. 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: V 4. 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... Slogans have appeared on walls around the city. VERB: V, V 5. When something such as a book appears, it is published or becomes available for people to buy. ...a poem which appeared in his last collection of verse. VERB: V 6. 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... Student leaders appeared on television to ask for calm. VERB: V in n, V on/at n 7. 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... The American will appear before members of the disciplinary committee at Portman Square. VERB: V in/at n, V before n